Budget Passes 164 to 9

By a vote of 164 to 9 Monday night, residents passed a 2012-2013 budget plan of $34,739,474 Monday night, a 2.1 percent increase over the current plan.

It will raise the tax rate by .14 mills to 26.42, which will result in a $35 increase the owner of an average home of valued at $361,000 and assessed at $253,000.

In brief presentations to the crowd, finance board chairman Richard Ohanesian, First Selectman Richard Barlow and Board of Education Chairwoman Elizabeth Kandrysawtz said they felt the boards had done a good job of dealing with spiraling costs for insurance and health care and yet coming in with responsible budgets. 

"Both boards have continued to make great strides in controlling costs,” Ohanesian said.

Resident James Lucignano said he felt the spending was too high. He referenced Kandrysawtz's reference to a zero-percent salary increase for teachers next year but said past increases have been too high in a tight economy. 

"I don’t know if there’s enough belt tightening going on,” he said. "Personally I’m voting no because I feel the whole state of Connecticut is in desperate shape."

Lucignano, however, was in the minority of those gathered at the high school for the vote. When residents had cast their ballots, it was 164 in favor of the budget and 9 against.