Town electors in North Haven voted to approve the proposed budget for the 2023 - 24 fiscal year. The budget includes general government expenditures, such as public safety services, and those for the North Haven Board of Education (BOE).

Of 673 voters, 437 voted to approve the budget, while 236 voted against it.

The approved budget calls for a total of $121,500,383. This amount represents a 4.7% increase from the current year’s budget, totaling $116,023,597. BOE spending makes up 51% of the proposed budget for next year, standing at $61,643,954 out of the total $121.5 million, and represents an increase of 2.5%from the current year.

The current year’s budget expires on June 30, after which the newly approved budget goes into effect on July 1.

The BOE portion of the budget includes $36,475,795 for North Haven Public Schools. Salaries for current and new full-time and part-time staff dominate the budget, making up approximately 89% of total expenditures.

New capital requests in the budget total $723,533, which are intended for new equipment for public safety departments, including fire and police. Public services, on the whole, are budgeted for $15,069,326 in expenditures within the budget.

As part of the budget, voters approved an increase of the mill rate from 30.71 to 32.65 mills which will remain one of the lowest in the region.

First Selectman Michael Freda reflected on the results of the referendum.

“I’m happy that this budget passed because it not only maintains all of the existing services that we offer to our residents, but it also enhances services in many areas. This budget supports public safety, education, public works, and my goal, as always, to ensure that the services that we offer to our residents maintained themselves, and we tried to enhance those services slightly every year. I want people to know that their tax dollars are going to things that they can see - whether it’s improvements in parks, playscapes, roads being paved, town infrastructure being improved, and supporting education and public safety.”

Freda said the turnout for the referendum was lower than was anticipated - roughly 5% of potential voters cast ballots - but he is “hopeful that the residents like the fact that all our services will remain in effect and will be slightly enhanced.”