STONINGTON TO HOLD VIRTUAL BUDGET HEARING ON APRIL 1

Stonington — The Board of Finance will hold a virtual public hearing on the proposed 2021-22 budget and its 0.49-mill tax rate increase at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 1.

Residents can participate by dialing 1 (408) 418-9388 and entering access code: 129 499 0249#.

The board will review each item of the $73.1 million budget by section. When the board reaches the area of the budget a resident wishes to comment on, the resident should press *3 to “raise your hand.” When it is their turn to speak, they will hear a prompt telling them to press *6 to unmute their line. They will then have two minutes to speak.

The meeting also will be streamed on the town’s Facebook page for residents who wish to watch but not comment.

Residents also can comment by mailing written testimony of no more than 300 words (equivalent to a two-minute speech) to Town of Stonington, Office of the First Selectman, 152 Elm St., Stonington, CT 06378; placing the letter in the drop box located outside Town Hall; emailing it to selectmen@stonington-ct.gov or delivering it to the office of the first selectman by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31. Residents should cite the area of the budget they plan to comment on and if they are in favor or opposition.

The proposed budget can be viewed in the town clerk’s office or on the town website, www.stonington-ct.gov. Immediately following the hearing, the Board of Finance will meet to discuss any possible changes and adopt the proposed budget. A virtual town meeting and in-person referendum to vote on the budget then will be scheduled.