Region 14 Referendum Produces Average Midday Turnout

596 Woodbury residents have entered their vote for the Region 14 Referendum, as of 12 p.m. Tuesday, a number that stays relatively consistent with past referendums.

“I’d say it’s about the same as years past,” said Voting Director Jane Sandulli. “There are not really overwhelming numbers here.”

Sandulli said she expects the stream of voters to remain constant throughout the day, but the demographic of the voter will change as the day goes on.

“This morning we’ve had a large amount of elderly residents at the polls,” she said. “Later on in the day, and especially after school gets out, we expect to see some younger voters and students.”

Woodbury has 6,726 registered voters while Bethlehem has 2,797 registered voters. A simple majority is needed to pass the budget, rather than a majority in both towns such as was required in the February Region 14 reconfiguration vote.

This budget, the fourth draft, is an increase of 3.188%, up $947,698 from the 2010-2011 budget. If passed, the mill rates increase .12 to 21.36 in Bethlehem and .832 to 22.282 in Woodbury. The initial proposal was a 7.17% increase, the second was 4.77 and the third was 3.72.

Voters will see the following question when they receive their ballot at the polls today:

QUESTION: SHALL THE BUDGET SUBMITTED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 14 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JULY 1, 2011 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2012 IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $30,670,780 BE APPROVED?

____ YES ____ NO

Woodbury-Middlebury Patch will have live results as soon as polls close at 8 p.m. this evening.