Seymour voters on Thursday approved a $30.9 million school budget proposal for 2013 – 2014 by nearly 200 votes.
It was the third referendum for the school budget, which had been rejected twice by voters previously.
A total of 843 residents voted to approve the budget, with 644 voting no.
Turnout was about 15.4 percent of the town’s 9,635 registered voters.
After the vote was announced at the Community Center Thursday night the finance board held a three-minute meeting to officially set a tax rate for 2013 – 2014 of 33.23 mills, an increase of 1.2 percent.
That means a person with a house assessed at $230,000 would pay $7,642.90 in property taxes next year, an increase of $92 over their current tax bill of $7,550.90.
The town budget of $22,045,915 was approved by voters at a referendum last month by a vote of 806 to 752.
Overall, the budget proposal totals $52,988,899 and reflects a 2.36 percent overall increase in spending.
The town budget proposal approved by voters last week represents a 3.2 percent increase on the town government side of the budget.
The school budget proposal up for a vote Thursday would increase spending 1.79 percent year over year.
School Cuts
Board of Education Chairman Yashu Putorti said after the vote was announced he was “very relieved” with the result.
The school board will meet June 17 to discuss where to trim its spending plan to make up for the $110,000 trimmed by the Board of Finance after referendum defeats.
Putorti said Superintendent Christine Syriac will present recommended cuts, after which the board will decide what to do.
“She had her new initiatives in there,” he said. “So the question is how many of those she still wants to keep.”
Click here to see Syriac talk about her proposals during a finance board meeting last week.
Trish Danka, the chairman of the finance board, said she was grateful to those who voted, but was perplexed as to why more don’t.
“I haven’t figured out the formula for the town,” she said. “Hopefully we’ve got a public who is reading and paying attention to the cuts made.”
Voters’ Thoughts
The Valley Indy interviewed about 10 voters at the polls Thursday afternoon.
Among the “yes” votes — Seymour school teacher Joe Carrafiello.
“Working for the school system you see what “no” votes mean to us and how it affects us. No one wants to live here when the school system is suffering,” he said.
Elaine Brandon, a retired teacher, voted yes “because our students in the system deserve the best education.”
Jeffrey Vrlik, 45, voted yes as well.
“I have three kids in the school system and there needs to be enough for teachers to provide the services they need to for the kids,” he said.
People interviewed by the Valley Indy who voted no said they did so because of the tax rate increase the budget carried.
“I voted no because the only way to get it under control is to vote no,” Steve Marti said. “Everyone is cutting back and they want more money.”
Alex Michel voted no because the bottom line budget was just too large.
“It didn’t really sound right. I think it was too much,” Michel said.
Jonathan Ertman voted no because of the tax increase. He also pointed to a top heavy administration, a common refrain among residents in the lower Valley.
“I voted no because I think it is too much money,” Ertman said. “I just think it will make the mill rate go up and I pay enough taxes already. I think teachers are paid fairly and the higher ups need to take a pay cut. Why does the superintendent need to make $140,000 a year or have so many assistants? They can find things to cut and not hurt the kids.”
