Voters in Washington County are being asked to approve an $8 million bond to fund an emergency budget shortfall in county government. Residents said they're shocked by the number, and how this could have happened. But county officials said after years of poor accounting practices, it's the only way to pay off the county's debt and keep critical operations running.

In Machias, Helen's Restaurant owner Julie Barker said there's a lot of talk about Washington County finances, and the $8 million bond on the ballot that will be decided in less than two weeks.

"So I say, just try and get it done," she said. "I hate to see people have to pay a little extra."

Barker said it’s hard to grasp how the budget issues grew to create such a problem, but she doesn’t see a way out other than the bond.

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