BETHEL, CT — Bethel voters approved a roughly $102.6 million town and school budget Tuesday that is expected to increase the mill rate by 4.27 percent to 31.71 mills, according to results shared by town officials.
The proposed town budget passed 899 to 755, while the school budget was approved 868 to 790, according to the Town of Bethel. In separate advisory questions, more voters said the budgets were “too high” than “too low,” officials said.
The combined spending plan represents a 5.24 percent increase over the current fiscal year and includes town operations, education spending, debt service and school maintenance costs.
The Board of Education budget makes up the largest share at about $62.1 million, a 6.4 percent increase year over year, while the town’s operating budget totals nearly $35 million, a 4.2 percent increase, according to budget documents.
The budget is largely funded through property taxes, which account for the projected increase in the mill rate.
The spending plan was developed over several weeks of review by the Board of Finance and other officials before being sent to voters for final approval.
The results have not yet been formally certified.
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Bethel, CT Patch
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