WATERVILLE, Maine (AP) A petition effort that sought to repeal the budget in a Maine city has failed.

The discord over the Waterville spending plan lasted throughout the city’s budget cycle. Resident Eric Chamberlain led the effort, which gathered only 268 signatures by close of business on Tuesday. The effort needed 857 signatures to force the City Council to reopen the budget.

Mayor Nick Isgro vetoed the $41.9 million budget in June. He was later overridden by the City Council. Councilors said during the budgeting process that the spending plan was a bare bones budget and that the city is facing a revenue shortage.

The Morning Sentinel reports Chamberlain says he plans to start a new effort to change the city’s charter to allow residents to vote on the city budget.