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Voters Approve $114.6M Budget in Low Turnout

In a referendum marked by low turnout, voters approved a $114.6 million spending package for the 2023-’24 fiscal year.

The $114.517,020 budget included budgets for the town operations and Guilford Public Schools. An additional referendum question asked voters to allocate $6.1 million for road and facility improvements and the purchase of vehicles and public safety infrastructure upgrades.

On the town side of the budget, electors approved an appropriation of $45,850,848, inclusive of the town’s debt service. Voters approved the request 1,267-919.

Faced with the question regarding the Board of Education (BOE) spending request of $68,666,172, voters approved the measure 1,375-808.

The referendum’s third measure, a request to appropriate $6.1 million for road and facility improvements, the purchase of vehicles, and public safety communications infrastructure upgrades, was approved by the widest margin. Voters approved that measure 1,456-727.

Of the town’s 15,938 registered voters, only 2,187 cast votes in the April 18 referendum, representative of 14% of the town’s eligible electorate.

First Selectman Matt Hoey said he was pleased with the referendum’s results. He praised the efforts of the boards involved in its approval. According to Hoey, the recent revaluation of property assessments put tremendous pressure on the town to retain expected services while attempting to mitigate increases.

“I am pleased that the great work of the Board of Education, Board of Selectmen, and Board of Finance did on cracking this budget in the face of unprecedented change in property values as the result of 2022 revaluation, resulted in the passage of that referendum,” said Hoey. “These three boards have consistently balanced the needs and expectations from the community relative to the services they expect and demand of their government.”

Acknowledging the division supporting the three questions, Hoey encouraged those who did not support the spending requests to talk with him.

“Thank you to those who have supported this budget and bonding request, and I ask that those who disagree with the result continue to engage in civil discourse on the issues facing our community, said Hoey. “I am always willing to talk to anyone or meet with anyone who does not agree with the results that occurred in today’s referendum vote.”