Lyme-Old Lyme voters approve education budget
Lyme and Old Lyme voters approved the 2017-18 schools' budget of $33.63 million at a referendum Tuesday. The budget is 0.49 percent more than this year's budget.
A total of 382 voters supported the budget, while 92 opposed. In Old Lyme the vote was 271-88, while in Lyme the vote was 111-4.
Superintendent of Schools Ian Neviaser said that he wanted to thank the voters for supporting the education budget.
"We were proud to bring forward the lowest budget increase on record in Region 18 and are happy to be able to continue the great work in terms of educating the children of Lyme and Old Lyme," he told reporters Tuesday evening.
Areas increasing next year are salaries, instructional programs, administrative services and transportation, while areas decreasing are employee benefits, special education, support services, plant operations and maintenance, and debt service, according to budget documents.
According to a presentation at a budget forum in February, the 2017-18 spending plan calls for improvements, including a new or updated kindergarten-through-fifth grade math program and the replacement of staff laptops.
The budget funds facilities projects that include the installation of air-conditioning window units at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School and Lyme School; additional lighting on the main campus; additional security cameras; the installation of a lacrosse practice wall; and the replacement of the fuel oil tank at the Lyme School, according to the PowerPoint presentation.
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