Griswold - At tonight's annual town meeting, residents will have their last opportunity to discuss the proposed $24.45 million school and $7.03 million general government budget before a referendum vote.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Griswold Middle School cafeteria.

If approved at the upcoming referendum, the budgets, which are voted on separately, would require a tax rate increase of 2.87 mills to 19.62 mills.

Although both budgets are only slightly more than the current year, the tax increase is primarily attributed to a loss in state and local revenue coupled with having to make up for the amount the town has taken from its undesignated fund balance account in previous years to offset tax increases. The town did not increase its tax rate the last two years.

Recent changes made to the general government budget, which includes $2.15 million for debt service, are the restoration of five positions in town hall to full-time status. The positions had previously been slated to be made part-time.

The school board also recently reviewed changes it has to make to its budget to meet a requirement by the Board of Finance that it reduce its spending by another $453,679.

Superintendent of Schools Paul Freeman has suggested eliminating four full-time teaching positions and reducing two teaching positions to part-time.

Among other cuts are funding for elementary school library books and districtwide instructional supplies, $10,000 for high school sports and part-time custodial summer help.