Photo By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Just over 200 people attended the annual town meeting in Seymour April 2.
SEYMOUR – Just over 200 people attended the annual town meeting April 2 and voted to reduce the proposed Seymour school budget by $750,000.
The proposed school budget now stands at $41,365,139. It is a $1.6 million (4 percent) increase over the current budget.
The town side of the budget at $27,124,976 was not changed. It carries an increase of $531,471 over the current budget.
The two budgets go to voters at a referendum scheduled for 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 17 at the Seymour Community Center, 20 Pine St. Voters will cast separate ballots on both the town and school budgets.
The Seymour Charter provides for an annual town meeting. If 50 registered voters show up, they have the power to reduce either the town or school budgets.
The annual meeting usually draws small numbers. But 210 people showed up Wednesday, causing the venue to change to the gym at the Seymour Community Center.
The motion to reduce the proposed school budget by $750,000 was approved by a 129 – 80 vote.
What Residents Are Saying
About a dozen people spoke at the meeting. Comments were evenly split among those who supported the school budget as is, and those who wanted to see it cut.
“My husband and I will have to decide whether to buy food, medication or pay our taxes,” said resident Marie Savoyski.
Resident Sylvia Ploss spoke about not being able to afford to live in Seymour anymore.
“Almost 25 percent of my Social Security goes to taxes and it’s beyond difficult,” Ploss said. “If I say any more, I’ll cry.”
Photo By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Resident Brian Ploss speaks at the annual town budget meeting Wednesday (April 2).
Resident Ashley Sirowich, who was the valedictorian of Seymour High School’s Class of 2020, wanted the proposed school budget left alone.
“I believe the Seymour public schools are underfunded,” Sirowich said. “I couldn’t take a math course because the school couldn’t afford it, and the school hasn’t had a library media specialist since I was a sophomore.”
Former high school football coach Paul Sponheimer said it’s time for retirees, even though their children are grown and no longer in the schools, to fund education for the future generation.
“Not many people realize that we get $12 million in grant (education cost sharing) funding from the state, so the board of education budget is really about $30 million,” Sponheimer said. “For some of us old-timers, it’s time for us to pay for the kids in school.”
After the meeting, Seymour School Superintendent Susan Compton said a 5 percent increase is needed to maintain the status quo. She said a 4 percent increase would devastate the district.
“This will absolutely gut our school system. We’ll have to make reductions in staff and programs.”
Seymour Board of Education Chairman Chris Champagne said he was frustrated more school supporters didn’t attend the town meeting.
“I’m extremely frustrated over the lack of turnout of staff and parents,” Champagne said.
Seymour Board of Finance Chairman Rich Demko said the budget’s fate is now up to the voters.
Taxes
The revised town and school budget proposal totals $68.5 million and carries a mill rate of 27.88 mills. That’s a decrease of 8.96 mills from the current mill rate of 36.84 mills.
While the mill rate is going down, the numbers used to calculate property taxes – assessments and the mill rate – have changed.
That’s because the town went through revaluation last October.
First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis said homeowners’ assessments increased an average of 43 percent.
Under a proposed mill rate of 27.88 mills, a 3,558 square-foot house on Brookfield Road assessed at $459,060 would pay about $12,798 in taxes next year. That’s an increase of about $1,658.
A 2,101-square-foot house on Colony Road assessed at $304,290 would pay about $8,483 in taxes next year. That’s an increase of $2,024.
A 1,360-square-foot house on Bungay Road assessed at $230,930 would pay about $6,438 in taxes next year. That’s an increase of $275.
