East Granby Annual Town Meeting Scheduled Tonight

East Granby residents will have an opportunity to be heard on the 2012-13 budget at the Annual Town Meeting tonight at the .

The Town Meeting begins at 7:30 p.m., at which presentations will first be made by the finance board, the Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen, followed by public comment.

“We encourage anyone who has any questions or concerns about the budget to attend the Town Meeting,” First Selectman James Hayden said in a telephone interview.

General Government Budget Calls for 2.8 Percent Increase

The total proposed general government budget is $4,231,400, representing a 2.8 percent increase over the previous year. In addition, the budget includes $178,012 (representing a 53.7 percent decrease) for debt service and $465,556 (representing a 20.1 percent increase) for the capital reserve fund.

Schools Call for 4.5 Percent Spending Increase

The budget also includes $14,200,000 for the Board of Education, which calls for a 4.5 percent spending increase over current levels. At the Town Hearing on April 3, the Board of Finance reduced the school board’s request from a 4.9 percent spending increase by .4 percent to 4.5 percent.

Mill Rate Would Increase .9 Mills

All told, if approved by voters at a referendum scheduled for May 8, the mill rate would increase .9 mills, from 27 mills to 27.9 mills, which represents a 3.3 percent tax increase.

After its completion this evening, the Town Meeting will be adjourned without a vote being taken since the Board of Selectmen has called for a machine ballot referendum to be held at its traditional polling place, the Community/Senior Center on May 8. According to Hayden, the selectmen have recommended that the hours of the polling station will be from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, please call the Selectman’s Office at 860-653-2576.