Vernon Gets a Budget for the 2013-14 Fiscal Year

Voters and taxpayers at a Tuesday referendum passed an $82.7 million budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year on the third try.

The the total was 1,309 voting yes. 

The total was 1,082 voting no. 

Those eligible to vote totaled 15,808, according to the registrars of voters on Tuesday.

The budget proposal, now the budget, is $82,799,460. 

That is an increase of $2,200,300 from the current fiscal year. 

Initially, the tax rate was projected to jump to 35.51 mills from its current level of 33.63, but additional state revenue to the tune of $188,075, calculated after the state budget approval on Monday, is dropping it to 35.40. 

The Town Council approved the new tax rate of 35.40 mills on Tuesday. 
The additional state revenue came in the form of $162,680 for the public pupil transportation grant, $17,587 in extra Pequot money and $7,808 in extra pilot grant money. 

The budget establishes a spending plan of $50,494,787 for education. Mayor George Apel had reduced $1.5 million from the original Board of Education request. The Town Council then took another $675,000 out, but then put $1 million back in to arrive at that number.  

The budget sets aside $5,909,670 for capital improvement and debt.  

The total for general government is of $26,395,003.