A proposed referendum on a Gloucester High School renovation project will remain on the table for future research and discussion after an effort to stop the referendum failed last week. 

The issue came up following a public hearing last Wednesday night on the county administrator’s proposed fiscal year 2020 budget and tax levies.

A motion to stop the referendum idea in its tracks was made by York District supervisor Phillip Bazzani during a “Board Comments” period intended to reflect on what the public had discussed regarding the proposed budget. The Gloucester School Board had indicated its desire to put the decision of a multimillion dollar renovation of GHS before voters as a referendum in November during a recent joint meeting between the two boards.

Following the public hearing on the proposed budget, which was held in the T.C. Walker Education Center auditorium, Bazzani brought up the issue of the referendum and the affordability issues it would pose for...