Gilchrist: No Budget Petition This Year

Praising local boards for controlling costs, selectman David W. Gilchrist confirmed Tuesday night that he and George Murtha would not petition the annual budget to referendum as they have several times in recent years. 

"We talked about this and decided since all the boards had done such a good job in controlling the costs, (the town) should not spend the $2,000 or more for a referendum," Gilchrist said. 

Gilchrist said Murtha felt that First Selectman Richard Barlow had done an especially good job with keeping costs down.  

Gilchrist also said the action this year doesn't mean they will not petition if there are bigger increases in future budget proposals. 

The proposed 2012-2013 budget is $34,739,474, a 2.12 percent increase over the 2011-12 approved budget of $34,015,978.

The town's annual budget meeting is set for May 14 at 7 p.m. It can be approved that night provided at least 150 voters, verified by the registrars, weigh in on the plan. If there are less than 150 or if another party petitions with at least 150 signatures "not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) day prior to the Annual Budget Meeting" it will go to referendum, according to the town charter.