Avon, NY - A vote to renovate the Opera Block building has ended in a draw, 624-624. That's not counting three questionable affidavit ballots.

Exactly half the voting Avon-area residents voted "No", to a $2.2 million bond to renovate the Opera Block building in the center of town and make it the new town hall; 624 voted "Yes."

Shirley Zandvoord, who voted Yes, said, "I'm absolutely flabbergasted."

Deputy Town Clerk Mary Rizzo was taken by surprise too. "I was just shocked," she said.

Three affidavit ballots might have made the difference, but the public will never know. Town Clerk Sharon Knight said, "The Livingston County Board of Elections has completed a thorough search of the state registry… and found they (the three) weren't registered to vote."

The stalemate means the proposal failed. However, opponents can't mark it a win yet. The fate of the building now goes back to the board.

There are five town board members, including the town supervisor David Lefeber. He said, "It was 5-0 vote to submit this to the public."

No one expected the building that sits in the center of the town of Avon to divide it politically as well.

The proposal in question would've raised property taxes about $100 a year for 15 years.

After 30 days, the board will have the power to put the matter to a vote again or move ahead without the bond money, and count on grants. The town has already secured nearly $7,000 in state and federal grant money.