East Granby Voters Reject Budget at Referendum

East Granby residents soundly voted down the proposed $19.07 million budget for 2012-13 at a referendum at the on Tuesday.

Indeed, out of 1,015 votes cast, 590, or 58 percent, were against the spending measure that called for a 3.3 percent tax increase, while 423, or 42 percent, were in its favor.

The responses to the accompanying advisory questions told the tale, as 603 voters said that the school district’s $14.2 million budget was too high, while 493 voters said that the municipal budget was too high.

The municipal budget was more palatable to voters, with 501 saying the budget was either too low or just right. Three hundred and ninety six voters said that the schools budget was either too low or just right.

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Just over 30 percent of the town’s 3,300 registered voters showed up at the polls.

Many of the members of the Board of Finance, which convened at the library after the results were announced, expressed their surprise at the referendum’s outcome, but were divided as to what it meant.

“I think we all agree that the majority of people have spoken and they don’t want a tax increase,” finance board member James Feeney said. “We can go on and on, with referendum after referendum until we take the existing budgets to something where there is no tax increase. … Unless there’s something I’m not aware of, that’s what people want.”

But finance board Chairman David Kilbon disagreed with the notion that voters would reject any tax increase.

In addition, Kilbon said that coming in with a zero percent increase year after year would only mean that there would be a year not too far into the future in which there would be a significant tax increase [See accompanying video].

"The thing I'm concerned about is, in avoiding a tax increase, that there will be draconian cuts in the services we provide," Kilbon said.

And despite the responses to the advisory questions, finance board member Mark O. Porter said that he had “a lot of concerns about the Board of Ed budget.

“I know they came in with a decent increase, and we challenged a bit of that and took some haircuts on that, but they have teacher contracts, they have contractual commitments. So, underfunding those, I don’t know where that comes from. Then you’re looking at cutting into some serious programming issues.”

Superintendent of Schools Christine Mahoney also said that the budget included the school district taking 50 additional Project Choice students, which would add some $317,000 in reimbursements from the state. If programming is cut, it’s possible that the school district could not accommodate that many students, which would mean less money coming to the town from the state.

After a lengthy debate over numbers, the finance board in a 4-2 vote ultimately set a new budget that calls for the following:

• $4.218 million - or a 2.5 percent increase - for general municipal operations;

• $14.1 million - or a 3.72 percent increase - for school operations;

• $415,556 for capital improvements; and

• $178,112 for debt service.

The revised budget calls for a total of a 2.33 spending increase, which translates into a .5 mill, or 1.85 percent tax increase, from 27.0 to 27.5 mills.

School board Chairman Kirby Huget and First Selectman James Hayden both said they would do what they could to work within the new parameters set forth by the finance board.

“The Board of Finance has a real difficult job to interpret the results of the referendum, but as Chairman Kilbon indicated, the results of the referendum do not indicate that the town is not willing to accept a tax increase. … I have a lot of respect for the Board of Finance’s work here tonight and we’ll do whatever we can to get to the 3.72 percent.

“But programs and services are going to suffer.”

Hayden was equally sober in his assessment of the outcome of the referendum vote and the finance board’s subsequent actions.

“We certainly recognize the difficult economic times,” Hayden said. “Both the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education continue to determine what their operating costs are and reduce the size of the increase. We will do the best we can to maintain services. The people have spoken and they’ll have another opportunity [soon].”

Indeed, another referendum will be scheduled within 10 to 15 days, said Hayden, who added that he would consult the town attorney today to determine whether another Town Meeting was necessary before the second vote.

Two people in attendance spoke at the meeting, calling for the finance board to listen to members of the public when formulating its budget.

Ed Zawistowski said that he repeatedly heard the pain and suffering felt by the operating boards as a result of reduced budget increases.

"People who pay the bills are also experiencing pain and suffering to come up with the money [to pay for the budget increases]," Zawistowski said. "You also have to think of that and think of the other side of the coin."

Bill O'Neill said that the finance board should invite public comment at the beginning, rather the end of, meetings.

"I personally would like to convey to you things to give you insight as to what the town really wants," O'Neill said. "You've already decided what you're going to do."

Correction: The original story said that the modified budget included a 2 percent increase. It's 2.5 percent. The Granbys Patch regrets the error.