Vernon Budget Proposal Defeated in Second Referendum

Voters in a Tuesday referendum rejected the proposed budget for the second time this season. 

This time around, it was a $81.7 million spending package for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

A total of 909 no votes were cast. 

The yes votes totaled 749. 

That's a turnout of about 10 percent. 

Voters considered these numbers on Tuesday:

• The school board's proposal was at $49,494,787. 

• Capital improvement and debt service totaled $5,909,670.

• General government was proposed at $26,295,003. 

• This year's budget totals $80,599,160.

• The first time around, residents and taxpayers rejected an $82.6 million budget proposal 839-649. 

• The budget proposal represented represented a 1.49 percent increase in spending and a tax hike of 3.8 percent.

The rejection forced the Town Council to set another date for deliberations - May 28 at 7:30 p.m. The Republican majority met after Tuesday's council meeting, but party leaders said a specific strategy for a third referendum was not outlined. 

It takes about seven days to schedule a referendum after a budget proposal is formulated because of advance notice requirements. 

The Republicans said the numbers were the best they could do in terms of wheat the town can afford. Financial officers said that, right now, revenue from the state is projected to come in $60,000 lower than what was originally anticipated for the next fiscal year.

There is a chance, however that state Local Capital Improvement Program funds could come in with no restrictions and could be used for general spending, finance officials said. 

Democrats had been pushing a no vote on the premise that funding needs to be added to the school board budget, which is about $2 million lighter than the original request. 

Democratic Council member Thomas DiDio said he is prepared to ask the Board of Education for a detailed report on what programs are needed and the dollar value of each of those programs. 

"That would the the logical approach to next week," he said. "We can show what costs what."

He said he would also like to know the tax impact of each program in terms of mills. 

Republican Adam Weissberger did not attend Tuesday's council meeting because of a coaching commitment, but has this to say: 

"First … I am discouraged that 90 percent of the town chose to stay home rather than vote. But the results indicate that the yes vote increased more than the no vote, telling me we are getting closer to a budget that can pass. I am looking forward to working with the council next week to produce something that the voters can accept."