In Ellington, Budget Passes With No New Taxes

ELLINGTON, CT - The Board of Finance on Tuesday decided to leave the tax rate alone minutes after a $55.3 million budget was approved at a referendum.

The budget was approved by the count of 835-414.

The $55,352,628 spending plan for the 2016-17 fiscal year thus comes with the same tax rate - 30.50 mills - as the current fiscal year. Municipal fiscal years change over on July 1.

The tax rate means that property owners will pay $30.50 for each $1,000 in assessed value.

The breakdown is:

• General government - $17,876,911
• Capital outlay - $1,375,968
• Education - $36,099,749

After several revisions by the governor's office, the two major state grants the town receives - education cost sharing and the municipal version of the ECS grant - will come in at $9,772,899 and $321,722.

That was enough to initiate all-day kindergarten into the local school system for the next academic year, municipal officials said.

And that was fine with the school chief. The net cost is $215,680 for the first year of the program.

"This is a fiscally conservative budget that meets the needs of the Ellington School District," Superintendent of Schools Scott Nichol said. "Implementing full-day kindergarten allows the school district to eliminate the mid-day bus runs and realize a significant savings. Great towns are a product of its citizens. The boards of finance, selectmen and education worked cooperatively to fairly represent the citizenship. It is a good day in the Town of Ellington."

Photo Credit: Patch