Polls will be open from 6 am to 8 pm Tuesday, April 28 at Newtown Middle School so voters can decide the fate of the proposed 2026-27 municipal and education budgets. As is usual, The Newtown Bee is urging all eligible voters to go out and cast their vote.

While many get caught up in the drama and higher stakes of presidential elections, all votes are important parts of our democracy, and few have as much direct impact on the day-to-day lives of Newtown residents as the yearly budget vote. This will affect the amount of services available to each resident and the taxes they pay to cover those services.

The town budget will be $51,453,296 and the school budget will be $95,961,919, for a total of $147,415,217, a 4.34% increase. The mill rate will increase to 29.54, a 2.79% increase.

The hope is to keep the positive growth in voter turnout going, as has been the trend over the last four years. The 2025 budget referendum passed with 4,287 out of 18,310 eligible voters casting a vote, 25.4%. This is up 17.7% from the low in 2022.

For the 2024 budget referendum, during which the feedback was negative, the education budget went down for the first time in 11 years; 1,701 No votes to 1,194 Yes votes, with a 15.1% turnout. In May, it passed, 2075 Yes votes to 1198 No votes, with a turnout of 17.4%.

In 2023, Newtown had a turnout of approximately 8.8%, the first year of increased participation after years of waning participation, especially following the COVID pandemic. In 2022, participation was only 7.7%; in 2021, the turnout was 8.98%; in 2020, there was no budget referendum due to the pandemic; in 2019, turnout was 17%; in 2018, turnout was 15.7%; and in 2017, turnout was 19.9%.

Even at the 2017 and 2024 levels, the turnout was too low for such an important decision affecting every Newtown resident, in their pocketbooks, in their property values, and in their quality of life. Obviously, maintaining services keeps quality of life high and thus property values up, while it also gives residents some say in how much they will pay in property taxes. Many residents saw some increase in their assessments and property taxes due to large increases in home values across the country over the last few years.

On the ballot, voters will be asked to consider the following items:

For the municipal budget: "Shall the sum of $51,453,298 be appropriated for the Board of Selectmen for fiscal year?"

"If the proposed sum of $51,453,298 is not approved, shall the revised number be higher?"

For the school budget: "Shall the sum of $95,961,919 be appropriated for the Board of Education for fiscal year?"

"If the proposed sum of $95,961,919 is not approved, shall the revised number be higher?"

Then there are six advisory questions on capital projects: 1. “Shall the $1,125,000 special appropriation and $275,000 bond authorization for the planning, design, acquisition and installation of an artificial turf field replacement at Treadwell Memorial Park be approved?”

Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation of $1,125,000, including $275,000 in bonding, to allow for the replacement of an artificial turf field at Treadwell Memorial Park. The project includes regrading as needed, replacement of field lighting with LED technology, replacement of controllers, and consulting, engineering, electrical, architectural, licensing, and advisory costs related to the project. 2. “Shall the $720,000 special appropriation and $720,000 bond authorization for the planning, design, renovation of, and construction of improvements to Cyrenius H. Booth Library parking lot and sidewalks be approved?” Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation and bonding of $720,000 to allow for renovations and improvements to the Cyrenius H. Booth Library parking lot and sidewalks. The project includes repairs to the front walkway and marble stairs, redesign and repaving of the parking lot, and construction of the driveway on the southern side of the library. It will include any related work, such as drainage and stormwater planning, installation of new lighting, speed bumps, removal of nuisance trees, and other parking features, including electric vehicle charging stations. The project will also add a drop-off area and increase handicapped parking.

3. “Shall the $600,000 special appropriation and $600,000 bond authorization for the planning, design, acquisition, construction, and installation of improvements to the Public Works Salt Storage Facility be approved?”

Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation and bonding of $600,000 to allow for the construction and installation of improvements to the Public Works Salt Storage Facility. The project includes the construction of an additional salt storage structure with the capacity of approximately 2,000 tons, which will be located adjacent to the Town’s existing salt storage facility, together with all related site work and improvements.

4. “Shall the $500,000 special appropriation and $500,000 bond authorization for the planning, design, renovation of, and construction of improvements to the parking lot on Trades Lane be approved?” Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation and bonding of $500,000 to allow for the renovation and construction of improvements to the rear parking lot and yard area of the Town’s maintenance facility located on Trades Lane. The project includes repairs to and reconstruction of drainage systems; redesign, grading, and paving of the lot to accommodate department trucks and heavy equipment; creation of storage bins for yard materials; renovation and replacement of fencing; new lighting; and removal and abatement of the existing greenhouse and contaminated soil surrounding it; as well as related site, environmental, and stormwater improvements.

5. “Shall the $280,000 special appropriation and $280,000 bond authorization for the planning, design, renovation of, and construction of improvements to Head O’ Meadow Elementary School parking lot be approved?”

Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation and bonding of $280,000 to allow for the renovation and construction of improvements to the Head O’ Meadow Elementary School parking lot. The project includes the full repaving of the entire parking lot, replacement and repair of curbing, and reconstruction of sidewalks, all totaling approximately 90,000 square feet, together with all related site work and improvements.

6. “Shall the $200,000 special appropriation and $200,000 bond authorization for the acquisition of land, or easements, development rights and other interests in land for open space preservation, recreation, farmland preservation, or conservation be approved?”

Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation and bonding of $200,000 which would allow for the setting aside of funds for acquisition of land for purposes of open space preservation, recreation, farmland preservation, or conservation. This includes acquisition of land in fee, or easements, development rights, and other interests in land for such purposes. Acquisition may include, without limitation, agreements and/or covenants with landowners in order to maintain, improve, protect, limit the future use of, and conserve land for open space, and for surveys, site testing, and environmental remediation.