East Granby Voters Reject Budget at Second Referendum

For the second time in two weeks, East Granby residents rejected a budget that called for a tax increase.

This time, voters voted down a proposed $18.91 million budget for 2012-13 at a second referendum at the on Wednesday.

The margin was closer, but the outcome was the same. Out of 1,127 votes case - three of which were blank - 547 voted in favor of the budget that called for a 1.85 percent tax increase, while 577 voted against.

At the first referendum, 1,015 votes were cast, 590, or 58 percent, of which were against the spending measure that called for a 3.3 percent tax increase, while 423, or 42 percent, were in its favor.

The responses to the advisory questions in the second referendum showed that a majority of residents still believe school spending is too high.

Indeed, 609 voters said that the school district’s $14.1 million budget was too high, while 516 voters said that the municipal budget was too high.

Once again, the municipal budget was more palatable to residents, with 585 saying the budget was either too low or just right. Meanwhile, 500 voters said that the schools budget was either too low or just right.

The East Granby Board of Finance convened immediately after the referendum and was expected to make further cuts to the budget. A third referendum is expected to take place in two weeks.

Check back with The Granbys Patch for additional details.