Politics & Government
Guilford Budget Referendum Scheduled for Tuesday, April 21
Guilford First Selectman Joe Mazza explains the budget in detail and says how much taxes would increase next year.
By Brian McCready, Patch Editor
On Tuesday, Guilford residents will take to the polls to vote on whether to approve a $90.7 million budget proposal for fiscal 2015-16, which increases spending by $2.69 million or 3.06 percent.
The budget proposal would increase the tax rate by 0.82 mills or 2.99 percent, said First Selectman Joe Mazza.
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“It’s one of the best budgets in several years and one of the lowest increases in several years,” Mazza said. “It’s a very good budget.”
Residents can vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at one of five different polling places based on their district. District 1, Calvin Leete School, 280 South Union St.; District 2, Abraham Baldwin Middle School, 68 Bullard Dr.; District 3, Guilford Fire Department Headquarters, 390 Church St.; District 4, Melissa Jones School, 181 Ledge Hill Rd.; and District 5. A. W. Cox School, 143 Three Mile Course.
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The town-side of the budget is actually decreasing by $500,000, Mazza said. The town’s pension fund is in good shape, and that is allowing Guilford to reduce its contribution next year by $1.4 million, the First Selectman said.
The Board of Education budget is increasing by 2.49 percent next year, but the increase is for contractual obligations. No new programs are proposed.
The biggest increase is in the area of debt service. This is the first budget that includes debt service for the new Guilford High School project. The town is bonding $66 million and will begin paying the principle and interest next year. The state will fund the remaining $26 million for the high school project.
The Guilford High School project is scheduled to be completed by the fall, Mazza said. The old high school will be demolished right after graduation, Mazza said.
He said other noteworthy elements of the budget include more money is earmarked for road repair and road reconstruction, buildings and grounds maintenance, and senior and social service programs.
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