Vernon Referendum Survey Results Released

The mayor's office on Wednesday released the results of the exit-poll surveys from Tuesday's budget referendum. 

Residents and taxpayers rejected the $82.6 million budget proposal for the 2013-14 fiscal year in a town-wide referendum. The count was 839 voting no and 649 voting yes. There are 16,000 eligible voters plus taxpayers who own more than $1,000 in property. 

The proposal carried a 1.8-mill tax increase over the current tax rate of 33.63 mills.

The Town Council is scheduled to meet Monday at 7:30 p.m. to review the numbers.

Here are the comments transcribed by the mayor's office from what was entered on the survey sheets.

Charts indicating topical breakdowns are attached. 
_ _ _ 

• The Mayor should be ashamed. He would have cut money no matter what the BOE sent. Why even have one. (BOE). Money isn't the answer to everything,but VPS will need more to meet student needs. The BOE budget was responsible. We support improving educatation. The Mayor does not care about our children.
• To improve the Town's overall education, there should be increase, not cuts that are always unfortunately expected. Schools can't be expected to improve without proper funding.
• All areas "Lower Amount".
• The entire budget in the present state and national economy should remain exactly the same.
• Bd of Education should be held accountable for the dollars spent and little results - giving raises to administrators when we have failing schools.
• You are taxing all Senior Citizens right out of Vernon and anyone wanting to move into Vernon know they will be paying higher taxes, and getting little or nothing for them. As far as the schools budget look at the pie, all monies go for salaries not for the children.
• You can't keep putting off regular maintenance in the schools or we will end up having another bond to do basic work. Don't be cowards. Do what needs to be done.
• Need more notification to let people know this was happening Like the newspaper - god fobid - this vote was a disgrace. What don't you understand that we are being tax to death.
• The Town should be focusing more attention on the Board of Eduction's needs and budget, instead of cutting $1 million from the budget it should increase the amount for the good of our children's education.
• It is disgusting that you do not want to fund the Education budget higher.
• When I went to school we had one teacher for 25-30 children. Now they need aids (paid) + (volunteer). Our kids are no smarter and we are held hostage to the unions. When will enough be enough.
• More money should go toward education. We can not meet obligations on this amount and all schools should be created equal.
• Taxes increase but my income does not.
• As a taxpayer - I don't mind higher taxes if the monies are put toward education - our children are our future.
• More money for schools!
• The Board and Towns budgets should be separate.
• Don't like the cuts made to BOE - The "gifted" students don't receive a dime!! Too bad !!
• People on fixed income have problems with ever increasing taxes.
• Need to look at fixed cost in the Bd of Education
• It makes me angry that the Mayor did a "blanket" cut to education without explaining why (besides not raising taxes) & following the recommendations of the board of ed &/or superintendent. This town will not go anywhere positive without "good" performing schools. It will not help our town's economy either. You worry about forcing people out but what about attracting and keeping people here. People that pay a significant amount to our town's bottom line.
• Do not like to see longiverty payments added to already good salary and benefits
• Our town is losing families with bright young people because we are not investing in education in our future. If we, as a community, do not make education a priority, it will only continue on a self fueled doward spiral.
• We should support all day kindergarden and tech
• Why do we need five elementary schools. There is less population in Vernon for schools?
• Our kids deserve better. Put their budget back.
• Turnout Bad 707 at 2:29 PM 200 by 8PM will be a miracle. Used to get 3 to 4 K
• We will never get this town back on its feet until we have good schools. No one will move here. So let's be sensible and put our collective shoulders to the wheel and our taxes on the line and getthe BofE whatthey need to accomplish the goal - good schools with all of our students ready for the world!!!!
• Many people are not working. How will they pay their bills.The schools need to be addressed this is a first step, but needs further attention. We also need to address to poor standards on our town ball fields and parks.
• More support for Education. We are bottom 30 & we need town support. I will move if schools aren't supported. You will lose families.
• Retired people in this town can't afford to continue to live here!
• Our children need full day K to start them off heading in the right direction
• I have children in the Vernon Public Schools and am concerned that the Town is not putting enough focus on education.
• All depart should cut from top to bottom to get an acceptable budget and do not add more programs.
• It's too bad that the Town does not receive a copy of the budget in the mail for its perusal. It would give us the opportunity to have more time to read it. There isn't enough time to read everything while we are at the voting place. With mailing, of course, there would be an additional expense.
• I've been working with a pay freeze for the past five years. Control the town finance bettter like I've been doing at home.
• Need $ for technology in budget • It's all about quality ... and quality is not cheap!
• Better schools, better town, higher property values, more tax dollars. Lets get Vernon back to where it belongs & the community I raised my family in.
• Town Council should adjust #'s to give more to BOE budget & keep bottom line the same.
• I would have preferred the Board of Education budget be presented to the voters as the Board of Ed requested. I voted yes to pass the budget solely because I believe if it did not pass the mayor and town council would have hacked more money out of education.
• The BOE has been underfunded for 5+ years. Please consider adding funding to the BOE budget esp in light of the fact that the currnt year actual's are forecasted to be $1 million and over budget.
• Many years of zero budget, interim superintendents, and cuts have hurt schools and subsequently lowered property values.
• Get rid of all the waste, and there is a lot, before you come back for more taxes!
• Every time the budget goes up so does our lot fee. We get only EMT's when my husband needs assistance. No other town uses. We have no children in theVernon School System.
• How about changing pension plans (town & educ) to 401K. How about salary increases every other year.
• The real estate value in Vernon is decreasing. A well funded education budget is essential along with strong overall capital improvements.
• Need to support schools to get out of the bottom 30. Value of houses dropping too many houses up for sale.
• I am disappointed that the Mayor cut the budget (education portion) ven before allowing taxpayers to vote.
• Not enough information about the budget in the newspapers.
• Although the costs of Education is high - unless we can modify fixed costs the town may want to considering funding areas which advance academicperformance examples, Coordinator of Special example Art, music, PE instead of eliminating these positions.
• The education budget needs to be higher to fully funded so our schools will improve and the home values will increase.
• We must strengthen the school to maintain property values.
• Working residents cannot afford increases in taxes.
• The education budget was not property funded. Taking a gamble on grants is not a god basis for the future.
• Board of Ed needs to trim more. Too many staff with a dwindling school population.
• As a senior citizen I can't afford to live in Vernon.
• I was in support of the increase, however, the way business is conducted leaves much to be desired. Is it run like a business "where every penny is accounted for"? If so, why are our schools lacking and public services sub par.
• More money is not fixing the problem.
• I love living in Vernon minus the value we place on our schools. Good towns that draw in families have good schools. Good schools take money. Please find a way to add all day K back into the budget. Our town's children should not be left behind.
• The Board of Ed is not using funds wisely and is out of control.
• Why is everything for the schools - We need more help for the seniors and the vets.
• Raises at this time are uncalled for.
• No faith in BOE, knowing what they are doing or how to spend money.
• Support our kids!
• Please support our schools!
• Keep it to 1% mill rate increase or less. Redo your figures.
• Stop the referendums. Trust the one who need the $.
• Why are the salarys up 4 per cent?
• I voted yes in support of the BOE they cannot afford to loose any more monies
• We are failing our children by blindly making cuts to the BOE budget, with no consideration to how the cuts impact the BOE's ability to improve our schools and therefore property values. I voted yes only because a no vote means you would cut even more, which we certainly cannot afford. I am angry about the politics in this town. It is clear the Mayor had an agenda and his party supported that. Education should not be decided upon by party politics, it should be decided on by the what is best for our children. Thank you!
• We need more money for Education
• Is the problem the quality of the students?
• Enough already about how bad (the bottom 30) the town schools are, already! You're gonna believe the Dan Malloy's Administration's opinions - he can't even do an acceptable job running the state. What with his basing all taxation like we're all Fairfield County residents with their salaries Same for Vernon - I've lived here for SO years. I know costs/prices are always going up, but our incomes aren't (going up as fast). Some of us have nothing to do with the education system, so why are we (our incomes responsible for its upkeep?
• A poor job by the Courant & BOE putting this together.
• The Education budget should be higher. The budget submitted by the BOE should be honored. We need to invest in our schools, and our children. Thechildren are our future. The education shouldbe a top priority in our town. I am still amazed that this town does not have a full day kindergarten program. My son is involved in extended day currently, and the improvement we have seen in the 3 months have been remarkable. Every child in this town deserves this 76 opportunity.
• I dislike that the 2 budgets are together - I think that the schools and the kids are suffering.
• Publicity Stunk
• Cut too much for Ed.
• Cut spending and taxes. We all have to live on less money. The Town should do the same.
• Just because I voted no does not mean that I want an increase in the BOE budget. Please try to keep the mill rate down. No means No for town and no for BOE.
• I am disappointed with the way things have gone in Vernon over the past few years, especialy the school system. 2 of my 3 childeren wi" not attend VPS next year. Money may not solve everything, but it solves somethings.
• I've lived in Vernon for 40 years and cannot afford anymore taxes.
• We're not doing enough to support our schools.
• Should be a much lower amount until they figure out how to get us out of the bottom 30!
• Should reveal more about what we are to vote - a summary of increases87 We wi" not get out of the bottom 30 school districts without more people and resources.
• I voted yes but I would have like the mayor and town council to support the BOE budget. I'd also like to see capital projects for roads and building improvements as we" as cost of living increases for town employees.
• On fixed income/when wi" tax increases stop. Contro" the budget like everyone else does.
• It is appauling that the education budget was decreased! I'm embarrassed that I live in a town that doesn't support the education of our students. 
• The Mayor should be ashamed!
• We need to support EDUCATION!
• Although the total budget is okay. I believe more should be devoted to education and less to the Town portion.
• I voted yes only because I know that there is little chance that money would be added. I do believe, however, that the money requested by the BOE should have been added in !
• There's too much spending in Vernon !!
• Every effort should be made to assist our schools!
• Schools should be better if teachers are going to get paid more.
• Extravagant spending; unnecessary; people can't afford increases in taxes.
• Most importantly the BOE budget is not adequate to fund the minimum requirements of the town. We wi" not move out of the bottom 30 without spending more money. • Too many chiefs in Vernon - most of them are useless and we have to pay for that with high taxes.
• The town needs to fix education. Fu" day kindergarten and more teachers (better pay too !)
• More money should be put into this school district so that a" students needs are met. Gifted and talented, full day kindergarten - which supports the common core standards. The middle school needs late busses or the teachers should received extra pay to stay after school until 4:00 for help - which would be easier for parents to pick up their kids after work. This town as a whole does not cherish the children enough.
• I don't believe money is the solution to better education.
• Plenty of waste look for it.
• We a" have to live within our means. I don't have any children, I'm tired of paying taxes for school. Are a" children's parents paying taxes, are they documented?
• Only the unions benefit from higher taxes.
• The town of Vernon needs to reduce its own operating line. Why does the mayor need a personal assistant? You are driving the middle class out of my town.
• This is a insult to the people who have lived here there whole life.
• Teacher coaches not needed. Teachers do not do enough. Teachers are over paid and complain too much. Education is like the mob. They keep asking formore and do not do the right things. They do not care! (slackers). • Taxes too high
• More needs to go into Ed budget as the needs in the schools is greater now!
• 10% decrease
• We're retired and ill. Where do we find the money??!
• Vernon needs to spend more $ on education. This is ridiculous that we spend zilch for education.
• Please consider adding money to the education budget. Our children, our property values and our town in general would greatly improve with more focus on education.
• The BofE budget keep going up every year. But the quality of the education does not!! Why keep throwing money with no results!!
• The education budget is too low. Our technology is deplorable. All day K is a must if our population is to be ready for the challenges of elementary school.
• I am not sure about the change in the parks and rec. It seems like the town's buildings and grounds are being control by one person.
• Nuke Malloy. I'm fleeing Connecticut
• I would have voted no but too many times this means the amount of the budget would go up more. How about explaining this more. Thanks
• The money the Town spends on every known to man.
• We need to cut waste and overlap
• I am on a fixed budget and don't get raises every year and neither should the town! Sharpen your pencils!
• We need to increase Public Safety and Education budgets. BOE budget should never be cut to ensure our children's education.
• The town should not be responsible for paying for magnet school expense. If parents want their kids to go to magnet school they should have to pay for it.
• I'd hate to see it higher, but education is essential. I also don't want to see my kids short changed due to budget cuts.
• I am not a bottomless pit of money
• Please don't destroy our wonderful parks and recreation department
• Spending more money on the budget Is a waste. Money is thrown at the Hartford schools and still no improvement
• Our schools need help, lets get Vernon out of the bottom 30% of the state.
• Increase Board of Ed Budget
• Being in the bottom 30 in the state, our schools need to be able to sustain and offer more for our children.
• We will pay for all day Kindergarten!
• Vernon schools have a poor reputation and need resources.
• We pay too high taxes already
• I am 70 and feel we need more money for our kids
• Assessments getting too high for retired people
• Town and education budgets are too small to support our needs
• I voted yes for budget and would like to see more money for BOE
• I voted yes since I have no faith in Republican council members increasing the BOE budget even if 100% of voters wanted it. The squeeze on the BOE budget year after year is neglectful and does a huge disservice to our children. You want better property values? Help our students with the resources they need to bring us out ofthe botto~ 30. My income is fixed but I know our kids deserve more!
• Keep Parks and Rec Dept intact. We love the Parks and use them daily.
• The school system needs a higher budget in order to raise the quality of education.
• Poor schools effect real estate value which effects tax base.
• Any time the registered voters are asked to vote on a new budget, they should be given the current budget as well as the proposed new budget with the % increase or decrease. Otherwise, it appears that our elected reps are trying to make us make an uninformed decision e.g. a 50% increase would not pass but a 5% increse may pass. Let's keep our town reps honest and let our voters have enough information to make an informed decision.
• The schools need more support. We must get out of the bottom 30!! Full-day kindergarten is a must - all of the surrounding towns hav ealready instituted it.
• We want all day kindergarten!
• The Town is one of the oldest but we need to continue to focus on education. Who paid to education their children? We need to look to retain younger residents to fund the town longer term.
• It is as good as it can be with the Democrats spending and lying about union deals and exemptions
• We should put more money into the school system.Don'tknow not enough information. Why didn't the residents hear more about this - in the newspapers. Can't vote knowledgeably without the information.
• Budget should be in a more prominent place at the polls. I didn't know it was listed until after I voted!
• Everyone working here today was very kind and helpful. It was my first time voting and I was very satisfied with everyone here.
• We are now in the lowest 30 of schools statewide. If you do not invest in schools/teachers/technology we will be last of the last! The Smarter Balance • Assessment in 2014-2015 requires better infrastructure than we have.
• Need this many to keep the Town running
• Everything should be lower,can't wait to vote mayor out of office
• When Superintendent can show us improvement with the money she gets - there are no increase in children - she needs to evauate what she is doing wrong!!
• The amount allowed for education is embarassing the mayor, town council and BOE should be ashamed of themselves.
• My property was devalued - result - increase in rate - my income is reduced - result - increase in rate - inflation continues to eat at income - result increase rate
• I cannot print money like the federal government when are you going to reduce rate.
• Town needs to cut spending like all residents must 5+, % is just not good town management. We need a new mayor that represents the town.
• You need to reduce spending just like we all do. The town needs to clean up the streets. Mayor needs to go.
• Too hard for seniors on limited budget
• Next time advertise.
• Though conservative, school and local services are essential!
• Only voted yes so education wasn't cut more. It's an embarassment that Vernon desn't take more pride in its schools
• Why do you people hold a vote in the summer when a lot of voters are not in town?
• More money needs to go towards education
• We need to focus on the education of our children and make Vernon a town that attracts young families
• I am not as knowledgeable about this. If a lot has be cut, I would support restoring it. I believe money should be restored to the education portion. I am sending my child to private school next year because of my concerns. Even though I will now be paying tuition, I still am willing to pay higher taxes to support public education. Each year, things cost more: food, gas, utilities etc., I pay more for things I want and need each year. It's only logical that my taxes would need to go up as the town pays for all of these thing, salaries and additional supplies. I hope that my "no" vote is not intrepreted as hoping my taxes will be lower. I HOPE MY TAXES ARE HIGHER!
• Taxpayers are already financially strained. No more taxes. Thank you
• Need road improvements
• Both budgets need more spending cuts
• Reprioritize current ed funds.
• Ed budget keeps increasing for less student involvementThe budget is shortsighted. Not investing in things like full day kindergarten will, in the long run, cause more damage both to the students and to the types of people/businesses who come to town.
• Education of the children of rockville/Vernon should take priority • A 5% increse in tax revenue is rediculous. Lower taxes and spending. More efficient education spending is needed.
• I am very concerned that $1.5 million was cut from the budget by the Mayor. I pay taxes and vote and expect my children to get QUALITY Education. I hope that there are all new Republican Town Council members voted in November. I am very unhappy with the budget hearings and feel the children are being short changed. Our house values will go down as a result of our standing in the bottom 30.
• Education budget shall never be lowered or cut
• Restore education budget + return 1.5 million! Schools are failing due to continued poor funding
• Please please please pass this budget. We are losing so many children to magnet school, it has to stop. Soon we won't have public school!
• Town needs to continue to invest in Education. The money needs to be spent wisely, but greater investment is needed. It is important to invest wisely in the future.
• Please have some compassion for Senior Citizens
• The Bd of Ed budget should be higher to include all day kindergarten, as many of our neighboring towns all doing.
• Education needs more funds to assist with teacher coaches etc., to assist our students and future generations.
• Raise the Education budget.
• Cut waste not education
• We need to refocus! Lets get back to what will eventually make our town prosper - well educated children who will grown into great Vernon citizens. 
• Our BOE needs all we can do !
• Get edicatopm better om Verno Please
• Too much for education
• We need more money for Education
• We need more money in education. Cut the fluff in the other departments. Cut Public Works, increase recreation deapartment mill rate increae too high for a town like Vernon that has little to offer its residentsSchool budget needs, to be higher! Worst 30 school districts in State! Older population (including Mayor !) doesn't realize that if schools don't improve, people will move out, no one will move in, real estate value will plummet .... See Detroit, MI!!
• Taxes are way to high in Vernon
• No increase in taxes!!
• More money for schools! No more bottom 30
• Glad to see an increase in education $
• Start spending money on schools. The fact that our kids don't even have paper is dispicable, Wake Up !!
• Better education = People wiling to move or stay in Vernon
• Disappointed the mayor too 1.5 million off the top from the BOE budget
• Return money to BOE
• If the budget does nt pass, the education budge should be reduced.
• Great budget, wish there was more aid from state.
• Support our schools
• Vernon was in the bottom 30 - we need to upgrade the education - how can you do that wlo more $?!?
• I know many fixed income residents don't want tax increases to fund education, but part of being a resident of Vernon is doing what is best for the community. And what is best is giving the BOE enough funding to provide resources for education of our children so they can excel and become productive members of our town!
• Please continue to keep taxes down as much as possible
• 5.5% increase is too much. It's all salaries. We take concessions and any freezes at our jobs. Town employees should do the same.
• Not reasonable to accept 5% tax increase
• We need good teachers and able to keep them
• Too high of a %
• Bd of Education needs to diet
• First they lost my change of address card. Then I had to re-fill out more forms, causing me to be here longer then expecte4d. Computers all screwed up some were right some were wrong. Please start mainstream recycling for the entire town. If you live here and don't recycle then they should pay extra taxe because of the $ we are losing to not recycling and extra $ spent on garbage removal. If you would like to discuss recycing call me at xxxxxxxxxxxx anytime and leave a message.
• Should remain the same as 2012-2013
• Road maintenance ie., crack filling and seal coating. Should be done on a regular basis.
• Save the Schools
• Save our schools!! Save our students !!
• I'm truly disgusted with the elected officials in this town (both council & BOE). No one seems able to work together for the good of the town. The party vs party and council vs BOE fighting must stop to accomplish growth for this town. • They get too much for what they do
• We need to think about the tax breaks. If businesses were the answer why is the Town of Manchester or East Hartford taxes so high? Something to think about.
• Magnet school payments need to be addressed218 
• We need all day kindergarten
• We need to put more money into our children's future
• The kids need us we need to support it more. We will fall even farther behind. I love the teachers we need to help them. • stop cutting education
• We need to put more money to education. Our schools need more support. I would love to see full day K and reading support/math support for all.
• Money should appropriated for more town services - not only education. 
• After volunteering at Maple Street School I see lots of money wasted for the after-school program - free food etc.
• Our schools are still failing & get no support from town council. Put back the money! Work together to fix the problem before everyone moves out of town!
• Without great schools and teachers our property continues to lose valueWith unemployment as high as it is, and those of us who have jobs that have not have seen raises in years, the Town Council and School Bd should be freezing budgets if not reducing them even if it means layoffs.
• Get rid of the arbitration, the CEA, restore school/teacher authority & stop coddling the behavioral problems.
• If you want to invest in this town's future then invest in the education!
• People keep cutting education. Our children are our future! Don't cut on them
• We can't expect our educational quality to improve, if we do not invest in the system.
• Education is what increases value in the Town of Vernon
• We need to invest in education before we are compelled to by the state. 
• Property values will not be able to compete with those in adjacent towns.
• Budget should not be increased more that 3% - the average salary increase by the average worker.
• Education needs to be better funded to keep people from sending their children to other schools
• The Board of Education budget should be higher to support the maintenance and improvements the school system needs to improve. I would move out of district if my children were younger and not in high school.
• Republicans invest in Vernon
• The BOE budget must be higher! Our schools will never get out of the bottom 30 unless there is more money for education & people will keep leaving Vernon for towns with better schools & our home values will keep going down unless something is done!
• Education should be our towns top priority
• The school has not show that the budgeted amount is needed
• We need to make sure that we support our schools. I've lived in Vernon for over 50 years and want our town to go back to caring about our chidren's education.
• Invest in our children's future.
• Please fix our bleachers at all the fields (Henry,Legion) It's embarrassing and doesn't cost much. Graffiti on busstop near Golfland is complete urban blight for our town.
• This town needs an education overhaul and our council needs to support it and not cut from it !!
• This town has been underfunding education for years. Our streets are disintegrating. I voted "no" in the hopes that the Republicans on the Town Council will reinstate the original amount requested by the Board of Eduction so that the district can begin to address the long ignored needs of our schools.
• I am a senior-residing in a 55 + housing condo. We have no children going to schools - give us a brek on the taxes - 60% of budget goes to education for what it is the same year after year need more money, when our system has been down at the bottom - why should I have to contribut my retirement to see no progress.
• Our town's schools are failing. Full day kindergarten should be a part of this budget.
• Seniors have less income and higher bills
• Education is very important - schools need equipment and wualified teachers - more children enter the system with more disabilities and need more help.
• Not enough information in media newspapers
• We need all day kindergarten. If the education department is poor, people won't want to live in town and property values will go down more.
• I would like to see more money put into our schools. Our children are our future and need the absolute best education they can get.
• Need to change the Status Que
• No Advertising
• 5.85 is way too high in this economy • I would like to see the full BOE Budget request restored
• When I moved here over 40 years ago we had a very good school system. It has gone down hill and thata no only effects the kids but also real estate. 
• Our town is too polarized politically. Stop voting by part and vote the issues.
• My husband has only worked part time since he got laid off in 2004. I work a full time and pt time job to make ends meet. We cannot afford anymore tax increase.
Employees of town offices need fair treatment. Should be paid fairly and high paid staff should get stopped no reason to keep giving raise when school are suffering. Stop disposing of Rev books at the school that's waste!!
• 260 Perhaps better scrutinizing of all town and school departments to lower expenses
• Money is not the answer. Many school sytems do very well with much less
• All Day Kindergarten needs to be adopted - all towns around us & many more in the state have started all day K classes. We cannot compete when there is lagging education. We need to separate town and education budgets.
• BOE has to find ways to more efficiency & effectively use their funds.
• We need to stop starving the schools and then expecting them to somehow do more. • No body in business can get a raise why should the town get one Free enterprise is gone!
• 5.5% is too high in this environment, need to take another look.
• Hard to believe the budget has to go up every year. How does industry control expenses, but gov't can't.
• We must address the critical needs of the town
• Once again thanks to the Board of education, we are getting screwed!
• Too high of a %
• Taxes too high in Vernon!
• Should have been higher
• Everything goes to the Board of Education. Fix the roads and bridges
• Bottom 30 school districts, need math specialists and more paraprofessionals. Also, this is hurting property values!!!
• Our schools need everything from paper to teachers. We must have more funding
• Town needs to address quality of schools
• I am a senior and I know todays children are our future. People are out of work and you want more money.
• The Board of Education should fund all day K rather than teacher coaches.10
• Our budget very huge, educational budget VERY HIGH
• The BOE Budget is unacceptable, but sadly we know a "no" vote would mean more money taken away from our schools. We need schools we can be proud of
• to attract young families to town - this take money!
• Stop trying to have schools do "everything" school should concentrate on academics
• We spend so much on education, its because of high teacher salaries. Lower their salaries and benefits
• Education is driven by related to property values. A lousy education system devalues property values because people do not want to move here.
• You did a terrible job of publicity! If this fails it will be because the average person did not know about the vote. I would not have known had I not passed the poll. Many of us do no take the JI
• Eliminate two Assistant Principles (RHS,VCMS), add pay for play, increased BOE budget to add advanced classes at RHS.Spending on education side is out of control!
• Should have more newspaper notices
• Retired!
• In this economy the town should do more to control cost - a large % was allocated to employees salaries & benefits unfortunately the rest of us are not getting increases in either category.
• If the schools get so much money, where are you using it. Stop paying for teachers and administrators so much money. That's why the Towns are broke. 
• Start reducing the spending. Doesn't everyone believe in spending cuts.The education of our children is key and we should grant the Board the funds it needs. If we want our children to be successful the schocols need to be funded appropriately.
• Overall budget was acceptable, but rough on retirees. Assume a lot of work went into small figure. Need all day kindergarten but tax rate is rough on retirees
• Leadership must rein in the Board of Education budget.
• With the economy as it is, governments need to learn to work within a "fair" budget. Just like at home there are things we have to live without or save for. We need to do better with that. The BOE needs to do an audit of what is needed not wants for ALL children. They need to learn to tell their succes story better too=)
• At the end of the year the town and BOE should turn what ever money is left back. You - the town just goes and spends it for what?
• We should always increase our Education budget - our children SHOULD MAnER
• Put more money into the BOE budget. Our schools need support from the town. We need to make our town appealing to families to come to our town.
• A few more dollars in taxes each = better schools programs + people stay in Vernon, there are a lot of people moving out of town because its all about the money and not about the kids and the people.
• Should consider allocating raises equally for all staff. Should include all day kindergarten for amount.
• I voted no overall because I would like $$ added to the education budget. Please invest in our children!!
• How about Seniors!
• Please focus on helping our schools!
• Our schools need more money - We want to be in the top 30%; not the bottom 30%
• As a teacher this budget has cut into the benefits for our students.304 The BOE should be lower because of the state money that must be spent by BOE only not the Town
• We need to fund education adequately! The proposed budget is NOT ENOUGH
• This is a very BAD economy, we the people can't afford more taxes! Education money goes mostly for salaries.
• I voted yes, because I am concerned a no would result in more cuts. I firmly believe the Education Budget should be increased and All Day Kindergarten is NOT a luxury; these days it is a necessity.
• Who in the Town of Vernon got the 5% pay increase?
• If a child wants to attend out of town schools, we should only be paying what we pay for our kids to go to our public schools. let their parents pay the rest.
• We need to keep helping the kids with their education and also we need to get more business in the town to help with taxesw and forget about improving downtown Rockville.
• Please implement all day kindergarten
• More money for schools!!
• Please implement all day kindergarten
• Voted for due to educational issue. I believe money could be cut other aras -leaf pick up for example. Support the schools!
• What Vernon taxpayers has received a 5% increase in pay. Get real, tighten your belts like the rest of us.
• If you want people to stay here & move here - you need to support education more. How can we be a contending school & get the things we need to grow.
• Poorly developed with little care towards fixing the schools.
• This was the first year I didn't see anywhere how much this would be per household. Also with the state budget looming & possibly making things worse, I felt it was just a bit too high.
• We need a better (can't read)
• More money needs to be put back into the education budget. Our schools are failing our children. Unless something changes families will leave the town or send their kids to magnet schools.
• The town should eliminate middle level administrative positions. We're not big enough to justify and they are luxurie we can no longer afford.
• Board of Education did not do due diligence in studying budget. Not benefiting the children. Need to make smarter cuts.
• Have to be more etficiency
• Our school is ranked below level. Why should you get an increase if it does not improve. Town employ should be taking care of trucks and equipment better so it lasts longer.
• The schools need more funding. In order to get out of the bottom, funds need to be spent.
• We need to stop neglecting our children. NelB is killing us
• I think more money needs to be put into all schools in town, not just the under performing schools. The schools neede more money and to be reevaluated for each of there needs. Tired of hearing since the school is performing great there are no needs. My child in a top performing school and I am looking at a magnet school not because of funding but because of the atmosphere and admin at the school something needs to change!
• Throwing money into the schools does not make them better.
• Would have preferred full day kindergarten included in the budget!!!
• There are places to save - do it !
• Please help our schools!!!!! We are on the bottom 30!!!!
• The BOE is receiving more town money and more state aid to address the bottom 30 status. Maple Street offers a healthcare facility, free lunches, breakfast - everything but sleeping arrangements! More money does not solve the problem.
• Very confusing. Ws a No Vote for lower budget or decling the proposal to actually increase the budget?
• The Vernon Schools are bottom 30%!! Need money in schools to bring Vernon back on track. This effects not just parents with kids but all homeowners in Vernon. People from Vernon want to leave Vernon due to our schools. 15 students from Center Road School 5th grade are going to magi net schools. 
• It is NOT the teachers. I love them and they have been wonderful to my kids and their students. Leadership needs to change to get Vernon on top abetter than surrending towns. Teachers need support from their leader to get students ready for the future. Our schools need leveling due to the demographics in Vernon.
• I volunteer in school and teachers try their best to challenge kids who are learning at a quicker paise. I disagree how leveling was taken away. I see kids not getting challenged enough and kids who are behind are so behind their peers. BOE needs to support their teachers and take control of kids who misbehave.
• Behaviorial issues is a huge issue that needs to be addressed!! I want to stay in Vernon, but if schools morale stays down I will look at magnet schools.
• Teachers need a good morale boost!The education side of the budget should have been the full amount that the BOE had requested. Vernon schools re falling so far behind yet our current TC members well the republicans decide to not give them enough to even cover the BOE contractual obligations. I am so tired of this republican run town. I am thankful that 2013 is an election year!
• Please fully fund full-day kindergarten. Give our students the resources they needs Thanks!!
• I'd like to see more money spent on education, school buildings and roads.
• Too much of an education increase. Would it help the kids?
• Tough times we are between a rock and a hard place.
• Do not reduce funding to our schools!
• I voted yes, but I'm not happy with the reduction that Mayor Apel placed on the proposed budget from the Board of Education. We say that we're going to make a commitment to our children and jour future, but our actions speak louder than words. Peopl;e are leaving our communities and sending their kids to magnet schools due to the problems in our schools. But these problems don't just need money - they need people.
• Teacher pay raise should be based on performance appraisals
• Please fund our schools to the level the BOE has asked for.
• Schools need full day kindergarten
• How can I afford teachers salaries and health benefit increased when I have my own 15% increase!!!
• Taxpayer cannot afford this increae in taxe. I did not get a raise this year!
• I haven't had a pay raise in 6 years.
• Need to bring schools back to acceptable performance levels, focus on gifted programs and athletics.
• Need to stop taking from the BOE
• Too much unnecessary spending !Didn't know it was being voted on.
• Our schools need all day kdg. To help our students get to where they need to be in this day and age.
• For a town that complains that about the poor schools more money needs to be added to the education budget. We are already doing as much as possible in schools with NOTHING! Our children deserve MORE!! They are our future to short change them now is a disgrace. I am appalled by how little this town thinks of education.
• Cut spending
• Cuts school budget too much
• BOE budget unacceptable. Losing kids to magnet schools because we don't invest in education. Now we pay DOUBLE for these students and those of us who remain in town suffer because our kids must make do with less. Fund education before the for sale sign goes up and we take our kids out altogether to a town that cares about our kid. No more bonuses to town employees .... invest in education. Get rid of leaf collection, if you have to. Where are our priorities???
• You are going to lose good families businesses don't want to come here. We are the gas station capital of the world, pharmacy capital, get businesses in who aren't just "renting"! We need to meet contractual obligations, fix road, it is time NOW!! New Council, Mayor and = New Vernon!
• Support educationSadly the Town of Vernon does not have the necessary tax base to sustain a budget that will allow for growth and education that will draw people to live in this town.
• Would like to see after yes or no on ballot, an additional question on why no, or why yes - want higher or lower budget with check off box.
• More money does not help teaching the kids360 Why tax hikes in what may be close to a 2nd great recession. Too much Union.
• 5% tax increase horrible. Education budget awful. Can't buy brains
• Never had any publicity! Don't get JI! No wonder it's a light turnout!!
• No all day kindergarten. The people that have kids should be the ones pying for that. I'm not paying for "babysitting".
• We need to hold the line on taxes. The question should be "Do we raise or keep taxes the same."
• Bad test scores - no increase in enrollment does not deserve an increase in budget. I have not had a rais in years. The Mayor promised not increase.
• Throwing money at something that is broken and there is no true plan to repair what is wrong. Also the double dipping of town employees as well as the homeowners have sacrificed, but the Town does not have to I find it deplorable.
• Town and School budget people need to understand that people on fixed income can not keep up with the increases - A lot of people in Vernon are on fixed income.
• No higher taxes. As individuals must learn to live within your means. You are driving people out of the town and state.
• Taxes for homeowners, especially those retired & on fixed incomes are too high.
• We cut back - You should too!!!
• Taxes should be frozen for seniors. Seems like seniors don't matter.
• Taxes should be frozen for seniors on fixed incomes. Our opinion don't seem to matter
• Lower salaries and benefits
• Salaries & bonuses are ridiculous and excessive.
• Overall spending should be reduced or held the same as a fixed income household.
• Need tax relief
• How can you expect people to increase their taxes when their income does not increase. You should put a senior cap on their taxes.
• 5.5% increase is too high.
• Too much administrative overhead. Pay employees for one job not multiple consolidated functions with other towns hire qualified empoyees. My taxes 
• already 10% higher over adjectent towns.
• Throwing more money at education has not improved the quality of education in Vernon the 40 years I have lived here. I don't believe it will be any different this year. In this economy most people are making dow with less. Federal, state and local government needs to do the same.
• Would like more information on the budget - website address, email with powerpoint & chairts (+bullet points). Also budget previous binder was missing the section on tables and charts. (might be interested in helping with future cmmunications soon to retire from United Healthcare (actuarial).
• I voted yes for this budget even though my new tax bill will make it tight on my fixed budget income. If this referendum is defeated please do not increase the budget any more or I will be forced to vote NO.Can't say - had to go to website to even see budget and town officials did nothing about publicity to say why such an increase is justified. It may be perfectly justified budget, but I have seen nothing to show me that.
• No enough info in JI385 It should be written about in the JI or some phamplets so we can see it first.
• Return to BOE
• Emphasis support needs to be on the Education budget and where and how $ are uesed to improve our standing in Connecticut.
• I am worried about the ranking of our schools. The poor job being done by Administration is being reflected by the lower property values. Time for a new superintendent maybe ??
• Get us out of the bottom 30!
• Please increase education. We need to keep the schools up to date so less need to go to Charter Magnet schools
• Every dollar goes to the education budget, 85% not 71% as indicated in the newspapers. A change must be made.
• Education is our future
• Education is key!• Property values are falling because of our schools. We need more money for education.
• Bottom 30
• I have not had a raise.
• Please consider allotting more money for education.
• Shame on a town that doesn't fund education!
• Tax increases need to be kept at a minimum especially due to the economy which has still not recovered
• Not just no - hell no! I am unemployed and this is obsene.
• Haven't had a raise in 8years and no pension.
• Too much spent on education already. More money will not fix education problems. Taxes in town are already too high.
• Vernon teachers are over paid. Each class should be tested every two years. I am ashamed that Vernon is the lower 30% on test scores. Eliminate paid teacher's aides! I was in school in Hartaford with 34 pupils in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. Only one teacher in a class, no helpers. Teachers who failed (75% pupils 403 who met the standard for CT) should be disaplined, no cost of living raise.
• Do something to increase property values start by eliminating all the social service programs clustered in Town - Let Tolland and ellington start sharing the responsibility.
• More money to schools does not provide favorable results as history shows.
• Ed budget - 2 million dollar increase is obsene!15
• Please consider committing more to Vernn schools. Young families like ours are considering leaving for neighboring towns like S. Windsor and Ellington, which have better reputations for education.408 If the school system fails, the town fails. More money needs to go to the shoo Is and kids.
• Board of Education budget needs to include, full day kindergarten. We are behind in that realm!
• We all discuss education as important but we don't back it with the funds to make it happen. Ifthis budget does not pass do not take the $$$ from education.
• People move to towns if they have great schools. Let Vernon be great and serve as a model for America!