Oxford Hills School District voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed $3.8 million bond to move the transportation department from a cramped and out-of-date facility on Brown Street in Paris to the former Bessey Motor Sales lot on Main Street in Paris.

The Feb. 24 vote was 550 in favor and 2,306 opposed. It left little doubt that the majority of voters from the eight district towns have no interest in adding to their property tax burdens.

The proposal faced other opposition: the loss of prime commercial real estate to a nonprofit entity, the generally poor condition of the 209 Main St.’s structures, and lack of data to predict the impact of an estimated 30 school buses and 15 minivans on traffic along Main Street/Route 26, which is already a congested area.

The project would have also moved the district’s facilities department, including grounds equipment, from its warehouse on Alpine Street to the former Bessey Motor Sales’ collision shop building. The transportation department would have occupied the service garage.

The old dealership includes a smaller garage/storage space and retail showroom. Improvements to those buildings were not part of the $3.8 million estimate.

Maine School Administrative District 17 is comprised of Harrison, Hebron, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris, Waterford and West Paris.

“We listen and learn together in the Oxford Hills School District,” SAD 17 Superintendent Heather Manchester wrote in a statement Tuesday night. “This referendum helped us identify and spread awareness about the facility challenges we need to address to continue to provide cost-effective and safe transportation services across our rural district.”

Residents of Paris put up the most vocal protests and even offered to donate an unused site on Oxford Street to maintain its commercial corridor along Main Street.

Results from the towns opposing the bond as presented were all in line, varying from 73% to 91% against. In Paris, 86% rejected the referendum.

“I would like to acknowledge the voters’ decision and appreciate the participation of our community in this important matter,” said Natalie Andrews, Paris town manager and a former SAD 17 board chair. “It is essential to recognize the implications of this measure, particularly given that the proposed purchase would have removed property from the town’s tax rolls.

“We appreciate the ongoing engagement from our residents and look forward to collaborating on solutions that meet both the needs of the school district and the interests of the town of Paris,” Andrews added.

The district’s board of directors authorized administrators to pay a nonrefundable earnest deposit of $20,000 last fall to the current property owner, Ancorum Credit Union, while it conducted due diligence on the buildings and grounds and have an architect provide a general design and cost estimate.

Energy Management Consultants of Portland assessed the Brown and Alpine street sites’ building envelope and infrastructure, exterior, and fueling station in a capital planning matrix it delivered in December.

Harriman Architects of Auburn provided a design concept and project estimate to renovate and update the workshop spaces at the former dealership.

Harriman also inspected and priced out the cost of renovating the current bus garage at $3 million. Using a comparable school transportation construction project it is managing in southern New Hampshire, a new facility would be between $6 million and $7 million, including the property purchase.

The lot for the SAD 17 bus garage is at capacity. Its unused land is primarily swampy and includes a drainage system and retention pond. It has 33 buses, 18 vans and a staff of 52. About 2,400 of the district’s students are registered for school transportation service.

“While the school district operates independently from our local government, the town remains committed to supporting the safe transportation and education of students,” Andrews said. “We encourage continued dialogue between the school district and the community to explore viable options that address the transportation needs.”