The town can begin its new fiscal year July 1 without layoffs and major cuts in services. At a rate of more than 3-1, Florence residents voted “yes” in a special election to allow the town to spend $15 million above the state-imposed budget limit.
According to unofficial totals posted on the town’s website, “yes” votes numbered 1,439, or 77.87 percent; “no” votes numbered 409, or 22.13 percent. Almost 42 percent of local voters cast ballots in the all-mail election.