Politics & Government

Town Hall Meeting Sends 2011-12 Budget to Voters

The town-wide referendum for the 2011-12 budget will be held Thursday, May 12.

Residents attending Monday night’s budget town meeting, sent the 2011-12 budget to a town-wide machine vote on Thursday, May 12.

On the referendum Bethel’s operating budget will be $24,967,475 and the Board of Education budget will be $37,958,525, a total proposed budget of $62,958,525.

Though the numbers remained unchanged since the last Board of Finance meeting, two motions were made by Bethel resident Billy Michael; one to decrease the town budget by $100,000 and one to decrease the education budget by $500,000. Both motions failed by wide margins.

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"There are a lot of areas that we can cut that would benefit the taxpayers," Michael said of the town's operating budget.

As for the Board of Education budget, Michael said too much money was being put toward administrators' salaries and benefits. Bethel resident Brian Walter II agreed with Michael's thoughts on the salaries.

Find out what's happening in Bethelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"My opinion is short and to the point," Walters said. "The administrators' salaries are increasing and there's a decrease in money toward textbooks and supplies. What's up with that?"

In response, Board of Education Chairman Larry Craybas said administrators were vital to the district's achievement goals and that laying any off would be a detriment to the schools' structure. 

Many came in support for the original education budget and some said they simply wanted all taxpayers to vote on the matter.

Bill Hillman, another Bethel resident, said, "I would like to see voters make this decision, not just the people in this room." 

Resident Bob Legnard said his was in favor in supporting the budget as is and to bring it to a town-wide vote.

"I think it's a fair budget," Legnard said, "I don't agree with everything the Board of Finance did or what the Board of Selectmen did, but we need to put it to a vote."

The town meeting also approved appropriating approximately $807,500 to finance several items for the highway department, including an excavator, snow plow and duty truck, and the Bethel High School Track lighting.


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