Preston approves school budget on third try
Preston — Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the $11.8 million school budget in the third referendum, allowing the Board of Finance to set the 2018-19 tax rate at 26.03 mills.
Voters approved the budget 410 to 300. The original $11.9 million budget had failed twice in earlier referendums, forcing the town to delay sending out tax bills, normally mailed by July 1. The Board of Finance ultimately cut $215,000 from the proposed school budget, bringing it to $11,831,804.
The approval came about one week before school starts next Wednesday.
First Selectman Robert Congdon said the tax bills will be mailed to property owners Sept. 1 and the first half of the payments will be due by Oct. 1. The Board of Finance, which met immediately following the referendum results, voted to use $450,000 from the town surplus fund to offset some taxes, and set the tax rate at 26.03 mills. Residents had approved the $3.84 million town government budget in the second referendum July 10.
Prior to the referendum, the school board eliminated a proposed new social worker position and reverted preschool to a fee-based program, charging $75 per week. Residents had objected to the move to universal free preschool since the board enacted the program mid-year in January 2015 after voters objected to it the previous spring.
“Obviously, we’re thrilled,” Board of Education Chairman Sean Nugent said. “We thank and appreciate the town support. Clearly, it was a learning experience for the board and the superintendent. We will look at our process and find ways to improve it.”
Nugent said the approved budget makes the start of the new school year much easier.
Nugent said he will meet with Congdon and Board of Finance Chairwoman Melissa Lennon to discuss ways to improve the budget process prior to next budget season in spring.
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