Region 15 Referendum Slated for Today

Middlebury and Southbury residents will have the opportunity today to cast their vote either approving or denying a $60,251,578 budget submitted by the Region 15 Board of Education for the 2011-12 fiscal year.

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. Wednesday and votes can be cast at the Shepardson Building on Whittemore Road for Middlebury residents and the Southbury Fire House on Main Street South for Southbury residents.

This budget is a 0% increase from the 2010-2011 budget. If passed, the total cost to the region’s two towns is $60,022,578. Middlebury would owe $17,964,315 with state aid cost sharing of $713,571. Southbury would be responsible for $38,948,528 with state aid cost sharing of $2,396,164. The mil rate in Southbury is currently 21.5 and Middlebury is 23.37.

Region 15 Treasurer Joseph J. Rock of Middlebury has said the 2012 budget set for referendum would preserve the Region 15 program.

“It will support middle school world language programs, support the K-12 Language Arts program, have a minimum staff reduction, expand online course participation, address secondary school reform, support IT acquisition and still stay affordable,” said Rock.

Woodbury-Middlebury Patch will have updates from the polls throughout the day and live results as soon as polls close at 8 p.m. this evening.