Newtown Voters Reject School Budget, Approve Municipal Spending Plan

NEWTOWN, CT — Voters rejected the school portion of a proposed $137 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, but have approved the municipal spending plan.

The schools' ask was for $88.8 million, a 4.4 percent increase over the current budget. Residents rejected the Board of Education's proposal by a vote of 1,701-to-1,194, calling the proposed increase "too high" in the referendum.

The proposed town budget passed, albeit narrowly, 1,465-to-1424, according to the unofficial tally by the town's Registrar of Voters. The new budget represents a 2.75 percent increase over the current spending plan.

Voter turnout was very slightly over 15 percent, according to the Registrar of Voters.

It will be the job of the Legislative Council to craft a new schools budget to present in a second, as yet unscheduled referendum. The new fiscal year begins July 1.