$45M Stafford budget goes to referendum
May 20—STAFFORD — The town will hold a referendum Wednesday for voters to decide the proposed $45 million budget for fiscal year 2022-23.
The budget represents a $1.9 million, or 4.3%, increase over the current year. The school budget makes up $30 million of the total, with municipal spending and debt service taking $14.95 million.
The Board of Selectmen made an initial budget proposal of $45.9 million in March. The Board of Finance whittled down the Board of Education's budget proposal by $300,000 before approving it in a 5-1 vote on April 26.
Voters approved the budget at a town meeting Wednesday night.
Assistant Town Clerk Doreen Moulton said Thursday that the votes from the Wednesday night meeting were nearly unanimous among the roughly 35 electors attending, with one individual voting against two of the six items voted on.
Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Stafford Library, 10 Levinthal Run.
The proposed budget includes a tax rate of 36.23 mills for real estate and personal property. One mill equals $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed property value.
The state budget set a cap on motor vehicle tax rates at 32.46 mills. Towns with a higher tax rate are expected to receive reimbursement for the remainder of taxes.
— Joseph Villanova
Joseph covers East Hartford and South Windsor. He joined the JI in July 2021. Joseph graduated from the University of Connecticut and he is an avid guitarist and coffee enthusiast.
