Updated: Vernon Town Council Sends an $82 Million Budget to Referendum

The Town Council could not reach a consensus over the budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year on Wednesday and Mayor George Apel wound up breaking a tie more than once in a scenario that sent the proposed spending plan to a May 7 referendum.  

Here are the numbers: 

• General government - $26,522,202.

• Capital/Debt Service - $5,909,670.

• Education - $50,169,787.

• Total - $82,601,659.

That translates to no change in what Apel had sent to the council for education - a number $1.5 million lighter than what the Board of Education approved. 

The total he submitted to the council was $82,585,933.

Democrats tried to restore money for education, but failed. 

Council members offered this summary of Wednesday's action:

• Three teachers, a resident and Board of Education Chairman Dean Houle spoke during the public input session. Houle has maintained that Apel's cut should restored. 

• The council went to the education tab first and Democrat Michael Winkler made a motion to put $900,000 back into the budget. The motion failed 7-3 on party lines.

Democrats Marie Herbst (illness) and Thomassina Russell (out of town on a previously declared matter) were absent. 

• The education tab was then closed. 

• All other accounts were reviewed.  

• The education tab was re-opened and a Democratic motion to add $300,000 was put on the floor, but it failed 7-3 along party lines.  

• The education tab was then closed. 

• Some adjustments were calculated, notably $120,000 to $130,000 in health care savings and an additional $5,000 to the library. 

• A motion to approve the appropriations ended in a 5-5 tie and Apel broke the tie with a yes vote. Voting yes were Republicans Brian Motola, Julie Clay, Dan Sullivan, John Kopec and Bill Campbell. Voting no were Republicans Adam Weissberger and Steven Peterson and Democrats Michael Winkler, Thomas DiDio and Virginia Gingras. 

• A motion to adopt the revenue side of the budget ended in the same 5-5 tie and was broken by a yes vote from Apel. 

• The same scenario held for a motion to approve a bottom line and adjourn to a town meeting. 

• A motion to send the budget to an automatic referendum passed 7-3 along party lines. 

Weissberger estimated the budget would increase taxes about 5.5 percent - or 1.8 mills - if approved. 

The current rate is 33.63. 

The April 23 Annual Town Budget Meeting is slated for 7 p.m. at Rockville High School. 

The May 7 referendum is scheduled for Center 375, 375 Hartford Turnpike.