Avon Voters To Decide Town/School Budgets For A Third Time

AVON, CT — Days into a new fiscal year, the Town of Avon still doesn't have an approved spending plan for 2024-25 for either the town or schools.

That could change on Monday, July 8, when voters — for the third time — will try to decide a town/school budget package.

A budget referendum will take place Monday, July 8, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Avon Senior Center, 635 West Avon Road.

After twice shooting down $116.1 million budgets during prior votes, once in May and another in June, voters will decide a reduced, $115.5 million town/school spending plan for 2024-25.

With the latest budget cuts, the spending plan is still $5.38 million larger than current spending, but the mill rate, according to the town, will remain the same at 29.37.

Previous potential mill rates exceeded the 30-mill mark.

Despite a flat mill rate, however, some taxpayers will see tax increases due to their property values increasing, a byproduct of a recently completed revaluation.

The Town of Avon has set up a web page that allows taxpayers to calculate their tax bill based on the proposed 2024-25 budget going to voters.

Avon's budget war has delayed the issuance of tax bills for 2024, putting town officials in a summertime holding pattern.

Local leaders did recently release information about the status of the bills because of the budget situation.

"Until a budget is adopted and a mill rate is set, property tax bills cannot be prepared, printed, and sent out to property owners," reads an announcement from the town.

"Tax bills will be due and payable Aug. 1 with the last day to pay without penalty being Sept. 3."

Tax bills will be made available on the town’s website approximately one week after a budget is adopted and the mill rate is set, according to local officials.

It should be noted that should voter turnout fall below 9 percent, the budget as presented automatically goes into effect regardless of the referendum's outcome.

This is because Avon's town charter has a 9 percent threshold for a vote to be valid on the budget.

Turnout was not an issue in both budget rejections earlier this year, with a turnout of 12.4 percent in May and 18.6 percent in June.

For more information on the Town of Avon's third budget vote this year, click on this link.

For more information on all of Avon's 2024-24 town/school budget proposals, click on this link.

For more information on the tax bill situation for 2024, click on this link.

From June 7: 'Avon Voters Blast Budgets (Again)'