Another Vernon Budget Vote on Tuesday

At 6 a.m. Tuesday, the bell rings for Round 3 in what has become as heated a budget process as Vernon has seen in years. 

The first two budget proposals failed with less than 10 percent of the voting population turning out. 

Here are highlights of the third referendum for the 2013-14 fiscal year proposal: 

• The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Center 375, located at 375 Hartford Turnpike. 

• The budget proposal now stands at $82,799,460. 

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

• It represents a tax increase of 5.59 percent, or 1.88 mills more, for a tax rate of 35.51 mills. 

• The latest proposal calls for $50,494,787 to go to 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 proposal represents $5,909,670 for capital and debt.  

• A total of $26,395,003 is proposed for general government.

• Town Town Council is scheduled to meet Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. for a regularly scheduled meeting. The results of Tuesday's referendum will be announced at the meeting. If the referendum passes, the council will formally adopt a new tax rate. If it fails, an other deliberation session will be slated. 

• The weather forecast is for sunny skies and temperatures on the 70s.