On Tuesday, May 9, during the annual budget question referendum vote, North Branford voters can register their approval or disapproval of the Town Council’s recommend 2023-'24 Town budget of $59,874,502. If adopted, the budget will usher in a new mill rate of 34.52 mills, up 1.29 mills from the current rate of 33.23 mills. North Branford’s new fiscal year begins July 1, 2023.

Debt service, up 29.41%, is a major expense hitting the budget’s bottom line. North Branford’s debt service (bond repayment) costs have gone up due in large part to some major projects underway, including building the new high school and the new police facility/emergency communications center. In all, North Branford has tacked on $1,110,513 in new debt service expenses for the 2023 - ‘24 fiscal year.

The $59.87 million recommended budget is a reduction from a proposed $62.91 million budget presented to the council in April, which included a proposed $20.94 million for town government expenditures, and $35.65 million for the Board of Education (BOE).

The $59.87 million budget provides $20,712,633 for town government and $33,400,714 to the BOE. It supports $4,886,851 for debt service, $222,304 for capital improvements, and $625,000 from the general fund for capital.

Budget revenue sources will include non-tax revenue of $4,250,272, state grants for education of $7,112,086; an application of $725,000 from the general fund; a capital appropriation of $625,000; and $47,235,144 raised from taxation (assuming a 98.5% tax collection rate), less $100,000 for local elderly tax credit.

During April budget workshops, the Town Council, which is also North Branford’s finance board, worked to find adjustments, reductions and other revenue streams in addition to making some cuts, in order to meet as many requests as possible, while reducing the burden on taxpayers.

At the request of the council, Town Manager Michael Downes and department heads delivered reductions for the council to consider, resulting in a total net expense item reduction of $213,282 from the original town government request while also increasing borrowing from the general fund by $125,000.

Ultimately, the BOE’s request for a $2.9 million annual increase was reduced to an increase of approximately $1 million, based on the council voting April 18 to appropriate any state Special Education Cost Grant funds to the 2023-’24 schools budget, as well as the council’s vote to provide an increase the Board of Education budget account of $665,000.

According to minutes of the April 18 meeting, council member Vincent Mase Sr. (R), said he felt the approximate $1 million BOE increase was not enough.

The council later finalized its budget recommendation by a vote of 8-1 on April 18, with Mase voting against.

Next, by Town Charter, 15 percent of the town’s electorate (registered voters) will need to turn out for the May 9 budget question referendum vote, in order for results to be actionable by the Town Council. Otherwise, the budget, as recommended, will pass.

Voters will indicate whether they approve of the budget, reject it as too high or reject it as too low.

District 1 polls are at Jerome Harrison Elementary School, 335 Foxon Road/Route 80. District 2 polls are at in the gymnasium at Stanley T. Williams Community Center (STW), 1332 Middletown Avenue/Route 17 in Northford. District 3 polls are in the board meeting room at STW. Hours of voting are noon to 8 p.m.

As of April 24, absentee ballots, available as provided by law, are available the Town Clerk’s Office, Town Hall, 909 Foxon Road, during regular business hours.