By Cathy Iino.
Next Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the town will hold a referendum on three questions:
- Shall we adopt a Regional School District #17 education budget of $42,749,049.19 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021?
- Shall we adopt the Budget recommendation of the Board of Finance of an Operating Budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022 in the amount of $5,653,803?
- Shall we adopt the Budget recommendation of the Board of Finance of a Capital Budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022 in the amount of $2,350,255?
The amount in the first question is next year’s expenditures for the entire school district. After revenue to the district and unspent funds from FY19-20 are taken into account, and the budget is apportioned between Haddam and Killingworth, the proposed RSD17 budget means an assessment to Killingworth of about $16 million next year.
The Board of Education’s proposed budget is available at rsd17.org/district/budget-information.
Referendum questions 2 and 3 are about the town’s operating (here) and capital (here) expenditures for FY21-22. We normally vote on the town budgets at an annual Town Meeting, but the COVID pandemic still makes it unsafe for us to hold a meeting in person. The Board of Selectmen has therefore sent the town budgets directly to referendum.
Again, the numbers in questions 2 and 3 are for FY21-22 expenditures. The proposed capital expenditures are covered by the operating budget, existing reserves, and grants; they do not represent an additional expense. Anticipated funding for the capital expenditures is shown on the Recommended Capital Budget.
The Town’s operating budget is up by $68,000, or 1.2 percent over last year’s budget.
The Board of Finance will set the mill rate for FY21-22 after all three budgets are approved. Under the proposed budgets (including the school budget, which represents about three-quarters of the town’s annual expenditures), the Board of Finance does not expect to have to increase the mill rate or borrow money.
Polls will be open on May 4, at Killingworth Elementary School, from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.
If you prefer to vote absentee (and you have not done so already), please call the Town Clerk’s Office, 860-663-1765, x502 to make arrangements.
