Naugatuck Budget Referendum Results Are a Landslide

Naugatuck residents voted Tuesday overwhelmingly against approving a combined $115.8 million proposed town and school budget for fiscal year 2015-16, which would have resulted in a 3.8 percent tax increase for residents.

The vote total was a landslide as 2,587 residents said the municipal budget was too high and 2,513 people said the Board of Education budget was too high.

Just 20 people said the municipal budget was too low and 23 people said the school board budget request was too low. A total of 192 people voted in support of the municipal budget and 256 people supported the school board budget.

This means the borough leaders will have to make reductions to the budget proposals and it’s possible another referendum could be held.

“The residents have made it clear they are tired of tax increases,” said Republican mayoral candidate Seth Bronko. “There are some tough decisions to be made in determining what else will be cut, but the taxpayers have spoken and deserve to be heard.”

The proposed budget would have increased spending by 2.5 percent over last year’s budget, the Republican-American reports.

The Board of Education budget was $62 million and the municipal budget is $53.7 million.

The Rep-Am reports that the average taxpayer would have paid an additional $170 in taxes this year if the budget was approved.