OXFORD – A margin of nine votes decided the fate of the Oxford Academy & Central School District’s $10.61 million phase II capital project in a referendum held Thursday.

The project failed with a count of 162 votes for, and 171 against, District Clerk Michele Rice reported shortly after polls closed at 9 p.m. last night.

According to Rice, a total of 341 votes were cast in the voter referendum, including 22 absentee ballots. Eight votes were nullified due to voter error, the district clerk went on to report. Two absentee ballots were also nullified, and therefore not included in the total vote count.

“The result of this vote certainly emphasizes residents’ uncertainty towards our local and state economy,” Superintendent Randy Squier said this morning.

Squier expressed surprise regarding the lackluster turnout at the polls.