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04/15/2015 08:52 AMThe budget referendum for the Town of Guilford’s proposed $90,703,425 budget is Tuesday, April 21. In addition to voting on the proposed budgets, which represent an increase of $2,694,969 or 3.1 percent over current year expenditures, residents can also vote on four separate bonding appropriation items for the town’s long-term financing.
The proposed budget includes both the town’s operating costs of $33,193,908 and the Board of Education’s (BOE) proposed budget of $57,509,517.
“This is one of the best budgets we’ve had in years,” said First Selectman Joseph Mazza.
The town’s proposed operating budget represents a decrease from current spending from $30,602,238 to $29,764,237, a drop of $83,8001 or 2.7 percent. The Board of Education proposed budget would rise from $57,406,218 to $60,939,188 (including bonding), an increase of $3,532,970 or 6.2 percent. Schools spending (not including bonding) would rise by $1,399,140 or 2.5 percent increase. The town’s debt service has increased due to the fact that the town is financing 60 percent of the new high school.
The new high school is nearly complete, with classes expected to start in September. Mazza said the high school project is currently $560,000 under budget and, by funding the project over 20 years instead of 30 with a lower-than-expected interest rate, the town expects to save $18 million over the course of the loan.
If the proposed budget passes, there will be a 2.99 percent mill rate increase on the current 27.42 rate.
In addition to Question 1, which asks if the town should approve the proposed budget, there are four other bonding appropriation items on the ballot for various projects and equipment.
The second question proposes appropriating $2,205,000 for improvements to town facilities, while Question 3 would appropriate $1,280,000 for costs related to the town’s Inland Road Reconstruction and Improvements Program, Phase I, and the acquisition of a grader for the Public Works Department (for more information on the town’s road, see “Guilford Prepares to Repair Winter Road Damage” on page 3).
Issues related to the town’s schools are addressed in the final two questions, with Question 4 requesting the appropriation of $3,595,000 for facility improvements and future project engineering, and Question 5 proposing an appropriation of $1,695,000 for security and technology updates.
Mazza is hoping for a good turnout for the referendum, noting that about 15 percent is the average turnout, though the numbers reached approximately 17 percent last year when all-day kindergarten, which was a “hot-button issue,” was on the ballot.
“We’re hoping that the good news doesn’t lead to complacency,” said Mazza.
The referendum will be held on Tuesday, April 21 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at voters’ respective polling locations. The 2015-’16 budget estimate is available online at www.ci.guilford.ct.us.