East Granby Residents Pass $18.84 Million Budget at Third Referendum

It took three tries, but East Granby voters finally approved a 2012-13 budget at a referendum on Thursday.

The $18.84 million municipal budget, which represents a 1.99 percent increase in funding when compared with the previous year, was passed 646 (53.7 percent) to 554 (46.3 percent). The 1,201 votes represented 35.5 percent of the registered voters in town.

The budget includes $4.21 million for the general government, which includes town services, $174,000 for debt service and $416,666 for the capital reserve fund.

The school board will receive $14.04 million, which represents an increase of 3.28 percent when compared with the current year.

The tax rate will go up .3 mills to 27.3 mills, representing a 1.1 percent increase.

Town officials were more relieved than in a celebratory mood.

“The budget process is always a case of listening to the people and what people want out of the Board of Finance and the other boards,” First Selectman James Hayden said. “I am pleased that the budget has passed.”

Board of Education Chairman Kirby Huget also expressed relief at the budget’s passage.

“I am glad that the process is over for the year,” Huget said. “We have made some tough adjustments, but are pleased that the town supported the efforts of both the Board of Finance and the Board of Education.”

This year’s budget process represented an anomaly, as town officials said that they could not recall a budget that went to a third referendum.

Residents were most divided over the schools budget.

John Klemnonsky voted in favor of the budget, stating that funding the schools meant investing in the future.

“I’m sad the way we invest so much overseas and not at home,” Klemonsky said. “Let’s stop politicizing everything and go back to work here. Money counts. We shouldn’t take that for granted. … This is the next generation. We have to invest in it.”

Others, however, objected to the schools budget for a variety of reasons.

Herb Delasco voted against the budget because of the additional 35 Project Open Choice students that the school district will accept to bring in additional funds.

“”If you vote yes, you want 10 percent of the school district’s students bused in from Hartford,” Delasco said. “It’s not good for Hartford and it changes the character of the town.”

Regardless, William O’Neil, who was a vocal critic of the schools budget, said that he was pleased that the town voters participated in such large numbers.

“I was pleased by the turnout,” said O’Neil. “It’s a great response from the town. It’s fantastic that people take that much interest in what goes on here. I believe that by having a referendum, the will of the people is better represented.”