Referendum set on budgets

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NAUGATUCK — A referendum on the proposed municipal and school budgets will be held July 12.

The Board of Mayor and Burgesses voted to set the date at a special meeting June 17. Voting will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Naugatuck Senior Center, 300 Meadow St.
Voters will be asked to vote ‘yes,’ ‘no: too high’ or ‘no: too low’ to both the proposed $58.2 million municipal budget proposal, which is a $4.71 million increase, or 8.55 percent, over the 2015-16 budget.

They will also vote on the proposed school budget, which is flat at $61.6 million.

Overall, the total $119.98 million budget is a 4 percent increase. The proposed budget increases the mill rate 4.17 mills from 45.57 to 49.74.

One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value. Under a 49.74 mill rate, a home assessed at $150,000 will pay $7,461 in taxes, an increase of $625.

The referendum was forced through a petition process and has the support of borough officials.

Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess urged residents to force the referendum in the hopes of buying time to resolve several issues and reduce the mill rate increase.