With 1.5 percent of voters coming out to answer the Town's Budget Referendum question at the polls on May 10, the Town Council's recommended 2022-23 Town of North Branford budget of $58,704,902 with mill rate of 33.23 mills is adopted. The mill rate represents a slight annual increase of 0.09 mills or 0.27 percent from the current rate of 33.14 mills. The new fiscal year begins July 1, 2022.

The Town Council made its budget recommendation on April 19. By Town Charter, registered voters are then polled on the question of adopting the recommended budget and its required mill rate. However, by Town Charter, voting results are only actionable for consideration by the Town Council if at least 15 percent of the electorate turns out at the polls. Otherwise, the budget is adopted as recommended by the Town Council.

This year's vote was held at the town's three polling places on Tuesday, May 10 from noon – 8 p.m. Voters were asked to weigh in on whether they approved of the budget, or rejected it as too high or too low.

Town Clerk Lisa Valenti reported that 140 of those on the town's roster of 9,288 electors came out to vote on the budget referendum question May 10.  District 1's polling place at Jerome Harrison School recorded 58 votes, District 2 voters at Stanley T. Williams (STW) Community Center made 33 votes and the Town's new District 3 voters went to the polls at STW Community Center (board room) to register 38 votes.

Within the tally of 140 votes, a majority of 88 voters rejected the budget as too high.  A total of 44 voted to accept the budget, and 8 rejected the budget as too low.