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Region 4 Budget, Down 1%, Heads to Referendum May 3

Voters in the Regional School District #4 will have a chance to approve or deny the proposed $21,685,239 district budget for the 2022-’23 school year at referendum on Tuesday, May 3. The budget, which is used to operate the John Winthrop Middle School and Valley Regional High School, calls for a $252,883 or 1.15 percent decrease in spending from the current year.

If adopted, those budget figures will be rolled into the school budgets that will later go to vote in Chester, Deep River, and Essex. If denied, it will go back to the Region 4 Board of Education for reduction before returning to voters.

The proposed budget will account for a projected drop in enrollment from 853 to 824 students in the district for the 2022-’23 year.

Under the budget proposal and based on projected enrollment numbers, Chester taxpayers would pay $4,937,881, a decrease of $189,661 or 3.7. Deep River taxpayers would pay $7,432,540, a $131,853 or 1.74 percent decrease. Essex taxpayers would see the lowest decline, paying $8,821,319, a $139,187 or 1.55 percent decrease. The remainder of district spending will be offset by anticipated revenues and debt service.

A referendum on the budget is set for Tuesday, May 3 from noon to 8 p.m. Chester votes at Chester Town Hall, 203 Middlesex Avenue. Deep River votes at the Deep River Public Library, 150 Main Street. Essex votes in Essex Town Hall, 29 West Avenue Visit www.reg4.k12.ct.us for complete budget documents.