The city of Auburn will have to wait a while longer before knowing if it has more spending freedom for green and other energy projects.

Tuesday's election was too close to call for a public referendum that would raise a cap on spending and borrowing for public utility projects. Unofficial results show Auburn voters who approve of the measure slightly outnumber those who don't, 1,245-1,237.

However, 533 absentee ballots were sent out to registered Auburn voters, according to the Cayuga County Board of Elections. As of Wednesday morning, 279 were returned.

Elections officials said they hope to begin counting those votes by the end of this week or early next week, but the board is first focusing on other pressing issues related to the elections.

The vote was close despite a lack of any organized, public opposition to the proposal. But state law also prohibited the city from officially advocating for or against the referendum.

The measure proposed raising the amount of money the city can spend on a public utility project from $2.5 million to $15 million. The proposal also would also limit borrowing for each project to $10 million, forcing the city to find other funding if a project exceeds that amount.

Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh said referendums in general are hard items to pass because people can see them as the city trying to change something.

“I'm pleased that so far it seems like it's going to happen,” he said. “I'm disappointed that it is not more overwhelming.”

Palesh also said the close results would not make the city more hesitant about moving forward with an energy initiative. He and other city officials have said the projects affected by this cap are the types that bring in revenue.

A proposed biodigester that would turn solid waste from the sewage plant into methane and compost would generate power that can be sold or used by the city to save costs. Officials have also said the current spending limit ties the city's hands if it wants to pursue energy initiatives that incorporate solar power, bioenergy, hydropower or wind energy.

Estimates show the biodigester proposal would cost between $6 million and $9 million. A $6.2 million project to build a power generator that runs on gas from the city landfill is currently underway.

Because of the spending limit, a private firm is building the plant, will run it and sell the energy back to the city at a set rate for 15 years, after which the city will control the operation.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.