During a special meeting on April 23, the North Branford Town Council finalized a $61,838,729 Town Budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 which equates to a 35.93 mill rate. The new mill rate represents an increase of 1.41 mills from the current 34.52 mill rate.

The council’s budget now heads to referendum vote on Tuesday, May 14. By Town Charter, the vote requires a 15% response of the electorate to be actionable by the council.

The budget includes appropriations of $33,901,724 for the Board of Education and $21,422,115 for all other town government operations; $325,500 for capital improvements and $415,000 fund balance for capital. The budget also services $5,774,390 in debt expenses (bonding) for the fiscal year. The budget will apply $725,000 from the fund balance toward revenue. A taxation response of 98.5% is projected to raise $49,059,856 in revenue. North Branford’s fiscal calendar year begins July 1 and ends June 30.

On May 14, North Branford registered voters are eligible to vote on the 2024 Budget Referendum question, “Shall the Town Council recommended budget of $61,838,729, which will require a mill rate of 35.93 mills, be adopted?”

Voters will indicate whether they approve of the budget, reject it as too high, or reject it as too low. The town’s three polls will be open on May 14 from noon to 8 p.m. Poll sites are: District 1, Jerome Harrison Elementary School, 335 Foxon Road (Route 80); District 2, Stanley T. Williams (STW) Community Center (Gym); and District 3, STW Community Center (board meeting room). STW Community center is located at 1332 Middletown Avenue (Route 17).

Absentee ballots, available as of April 29, can be obtained at the Town Clerk’s Office during regular business hours, in North Branford Town Hall, 909 Foxon Road.