Absentee Ballots, Sample Ballot Now Available for May 12 Budget Referendum

According to Bethel Town Clerk Lisa Bergh, absentee ballots are now available for the 2011-12 Budget Referendum scheduled for Thursday May 12, 2011.

The will be open during normal office hours, Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. The office will also be open this Saturday, May 7 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. for absentee balloting.

Due to State Statute 9-140 and 9-369c, the office is not permitted to mail ballots. They must be picked up in person, or by a designee as stated on the application.

A voter must also meet criteria in order to vote by absentee ballot, which is being out of town during all voting hours on May 12, a physical disability or illness.

Next Thursday's ballot will have two questions and two non binding questions relating to the 2011-12 budget, which totals $62,958,525. Voters must mark their ballot with an "X" or a "√" mark. A sample ballot is attached to this article, but here are the questions that will appear: 

• Question 1: Town Municipal Budget - Shall the Town of Bethel appropriate the sum of Twenty Four Million Nine Hundred Sixty Seven Thousand Four Hundred Seventy Five ($24,967,475.00) Dollars as approved by the Annual Town Meeting of May 2, 2011 as the Annual Town Operating Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2011. (Yes or No)
• Question 2: Town Education Budget - Shall the Town of Bethel appropriate the sum of Thirty Seven Million Nine Hundred Ninety One Thousand Fifty ($37,991,050.00) Dollars as approved by the Annual Town Meeting of May 2, 2011 as the Annual Town Board of Education Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2011. (Yes or No)
• Non Biding Advisory Question 1 - Is the recommended Annual Town Budget in the amount of Twenty Four Million Nine Hundred Sixty Seven Thousand Four Hundred Seventy Five ($24,967,475.00) Dollars...(Too High or Too Low)
• Non Biding Advisory Question 2 - Is the recommended Annual Board of Education Budget of Thirty Seven Million Nine Hundred Ninety One Thousand Fifty ($37,991,050.00) Dollars...(Too High or Too Low)