Budget Vote Is

Tuesday, April 22

By Dottie Evans

Newtown voters will be asked next week to go to the polls and vote on a proposed $80.7 million budget package for the upcoming 2003–2004 budget year beginning July 1.

The town side of the proposed budget has been set at $30.3 million, which represents a decrease of approximately 3.2 percent over the current spending plan.

The education budget has been set at $50.3 million, which is an increase of approximately 9.6 percent over the current budget. Two of the costliest components affecting the school budget increase are the annualization of the new Reed Intermediate School and the expected addition of 171 new students coming into the system next fall. Newtown spends $8,168 to educate each student in the school system.

The combined $80.7 million budget package is up 4.5 percent from the current budget of $77.2 million and it reflects tough economic times, including a projected loss of more than $1 million in state revenues in the form of aid to the town and its schools.

In addition, a state-mandated revaluation for the 2002 Grand List on a new four-year cycle was conducted for all Newtown commercial and residential properties. After revaluation, the Grand List was up 52 percent but a shift in the tax burden from the commercial toward the residential side meant that 80 percent of Newtown residents saw an increase in their property tax assessments.

If the proposed 2003–2004 budget passes, the mill rate will be set at 24.

The budget referendum will be Tuesday, April 22, 6 am to 8 pm, at the Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen St. The complete budget appears on C8.