What a difference four months make.

Last Tuesday's vote to fund the town's obligation to the $293 million Diman vocational school project via excluded debt passed by a margin of five to two, a victory for town officials who believe using excluded debt will help protect Westport's tight operating budget for years to come.

Of the 1,801 residents who voted last week, 1,042 voted 'Yes' on Question One. 'No' votes totaled 668, and 91 voters left the question blank. That comes in sharp contrast to the results of last November's vote, when residents voted 3,700 to 3,345 against using excluded debt, with 516 voters leaving the question blank.

Following the November vote, town officials pledged to go back to voters again, saying that rejecting excluded debt to pay for the project would leave the town with only one realistic option — funding the town's responsibility, about $7.5 to $8 million, out of the operating budget. With the operating budget stretched thin in recent years, officials worried that finding room for the Diman money, while still conforming to the 2.5 percent year levy increase cap allowed by Proposition 2 1/2, would force the town to reduce public services.

The vote Tuesday was the last step in determining funding for the project, as voters at the 2022 Town Meeting voted to approve the town's share of the project overall. The estimated yearly cost to Westport to pay off its obligation is estimated to be $400,000 to $500,000 over the 20-30 year life of the bonds.