Granby Residents Vote To Approve Town Budget

Over 300 Granby residents and town officials gathered at Granby Memorial High School to discuss, vote, and ultimately pass the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 town budget.

Both the Granby Board of Education and Board of Selectmen arrived in March, after a few revisions, with budget plans that resulted in a zero percent increase in municipal spending for the coming year.

"It is very simply a flat budget that carries a mill rate increase of one percent," Granby Board of Finance Chairman Michael Guarco said Monday night.

The newly approved budget contained a one percent increase to the town's tax rate to make up for an unanticipated shortfall in town revenue of $407,000 for fiscal year 2011-2012.

Before ballots were collected residents had an opportunity to ask questions or comment on the budget.  

"I have a strong feeling that children appreciate at a much greater rate than capital investments depreciate," Granby resident Christopher Delello said.  "So I ask that you all keep that in mind."

Another resident, Karen Falvey, shared Delello's concern with continually adopting a budget with no spending increase in education.

"I think the longer we stay with a zero budget as it's mentioned in here, I'm concerned that we will only put off the really great needs of our children," Falvey said.

Town guidelines for a budget vote require a minimum of 130 votes to constitute a quorum, 274 votes were cast Monday night.  232 residents voted in favor of the budget, 41 voted against it, and 1 ballot was unmarked.

State Representative for the 62nd District Bill Simanski (R), the moderator for the meeting,  announced the approval of the fiscal year 2011-2012 town budget shortly before 9 p.m.