Bethel $31.5 Million Town Budget Goes to Referendum Tuesday

BETHEL, CT — The proposed 2019-20 municipal budget, totaling $31,576,043, heads to public referendum on Tuesday.

A $46.4 million school budget and $1 million in capital expenses have already been approved by voters.

The Highway Department would be a major beneficiary of an approved budget as proposed, with line items totaling $2,088,188. That includes $700,000 for road construction, and over $883,000 in salaries. Most of the requested money for the Police Department is for salaries, $4,265,397 out of a total ask of $4,694,263.

As is usual with municipal budgets, in Bethel and elsewhere, employee benefits demand the lion's share of the appropriation. The total for the 2019-20 plan is $6,192,677, which includes employee ($1,449,153) and police ($1,099,466) pensions as well as $2,859,670 for hospitalization.

Residents may vote at the Bethel Municipal Center, 1 School Street, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7.