Oxford voters approved 2011 – 2012 town and school budgets Tuesday at a day-long referendum.
But the town must hold a recount on the $25.9 million school budget because it passed by only 13 votes. The final count was 846 in favor of the school budget, and 833 opposed.
The $13.4 million town budget is final, after it passed with 920 ‘yes’ votes, and 761 ‘no’ votes.
The finance board Tuesday night set the new tax rate at 23.21 mills, which is up from the current rate of 21.05 mills, but a half mill lower than at the referendum that failed last month.
The new tax rate does not necessarily translate to much higher taxes for homeowners though, because there was a property revaluation last fall.
But if a person with a home assessed at $250,000 saw no difference in their property value, the new tax rate would result in $540 more in taxes next year.
School Budget
The school budget recount will be held in the next 10 days. The date will be announced once it is scheduled.
“I’d say I’m cautiously optimistic,” said Michael Macchio, a member of the Board of Education, after it was clear the close voting demanded a recount. “We’re glad it passed, at least on the first go-round here, and hope that it holds up in the recount.”
Macchio said it would be difficult to make further cuts to the schools budget.
The district has already absorbed $420,000 in cuts, since a first proposal failed at the last referendum. The Board of Education has made the cuts without any impact on certified teaching staff.
The close vote on the school budget was a message to the schools that voters want better management of the school budget, said First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers, who was reached later by telephone.
She did not attend the vote count.
“I think residents were skeptical because of deficits being run (by the district) and a lack of answers to what is going on in those budget numbers,” Drayton-Rogers said.
Town Budget
Drayton-Rogers said she was thankful for the larger margin on the town budget.
“We worked harder to get the information out there and tried to clarify the numbers, to clarify what it meant to the taxpayers,” Drayton-Rogers said.
Lila Ferrillo, chairman of the Board of Finance, said she was relieved the finance board would have to gather again to comb over budgets and make further cuts. It has been a difficult budget season.
The Results
$13.4 million town budget
YES: 920
NO: 761
$25.9 million school budget
YES: 846
NO: 833
