New London — Voters will be able to voice their opinions about government spending on Sept. 18, when the $42.3 million general government budget goes to a vote.

The City Council on Monday voted to send the budget to referendum after residents signed a petition calling for the council to either reconsider "all or some" of the budget or send it to the people to vote on it.

The council opted to send the proposed 2012-13 municipal spending plan to a vote rather than make cuts.The petition forced the referendum only on the general-government portion of the budget.

The petition, which the city clerk received on July 2 and certified Monday, had more than 784 signatures, 644 of which were accepted. It also calls for a repeal of the tax rate, which was set at 27.22 mills, a 7.5 percent increase.

The $83 million city budget includes $42.3 million in general-government spending and $39.8 million for education. It represents about a 7.8 percent increase in taxes.

Last month, the City Council unanimously overrode the mayor's veto of the budget.