Avon, June 7, 2024 – For the first time since 2008, Avon voters have rejected multiple budget proposals. The latest $116.087 million budget proposal was turned down by 71% of voters, with only 39% in favor. Participation was notably high with 2,431 voters, the largest turnout since 2005.
This rejection followed a failed referendum on May 15, which saw an even larger margin of defeat, 82.1% to 17.8%. The most recent proposal included an additional $323,263 in state revenue to reduce the proposed tax increase from 3.3% to 2.96%.
Despite these adjustments, the proposal failed again with a vote of 1,745 to 686. The town charter mandates that if a third referendum also fails, the Town Council will be responsible for finalizing the budget, a situation last encountered in 2008.
The $116.087 million budget included an overall increase of $5.9 million or 5.44%, which would have resulted in a 2.96% tax increase. The town’s proposed operating budget of $31.0 million increased by $1.2 million or 4.25%, while the Board of Education budget rose to $72.2 million, an increase of $3.3 million or 4.90%.
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