Bethel seeks spending increase ahead of vote
BETHEL — The town’s proposed $81.9 million spending plan for 2021-22 will go to a townwide referendum April 20.
During the in-person annual town meeting at Bethel High School’s track and field training center Monday night, mask-wearing attendees weighed in on the
2.62 percent year-over-year overall budget increase.
The $81.9 million combined budget would allocate $49 million to Bethel’s school district and $32.9 million to town operations.
Motions on both the school and town budgets passed, but not unanimously.
Fleetwood Avenue resident Bill Michael said he has a hard time supporting the town side of the budget, which reflects a $1 million increase over current town spending.
“There are so many people who have been destroyed by the pandemic … and to see the government of Bethel spending at this rate — I just can’t support the level of spending,” he said. “I just think it’s too much, given the pandemic.”
The town side of the budget allocates about $26.7 million to municipal operating expenses,
$350,000 to school building maintenance and includes nearly $5.8 million in debt service.
While some residents expressed opposition and spending concerns about the $49 million Board of Education budget, others voiced
support for the 2.25 percent school budget increase.
Eagle Rock Hill resident Linda Siladi — who works for the school district and has a child enrolled at the high school — said she’s seen the pandemic’s impact on student learning and social-emotional wellbeing, and believes school funding is important to help them get through this difficult time.
Siladi said a reduction to the school budget — which was already cut $400,000 by the Board of Finance in an effort to reduce the town’s year-over-year spending increase — would be “devastating.”
“We need to do what is right for our kids. If we nickel-and-dime them, you’re going to see more problems,” she said. “We cannot deny what the kids need. It is so important. I understand how
devastating (the pandemic has been on) some people in our community … but we need to do what’s right for the kids.”
A Bethel High School student also spoke in support of the school budget, saying she’s “glad that the Board of Education is supporting the schools by trying to help the students and the teachers.”
The said she’s witnessed friends “fall apart” as a result of the "social-emotional disconnect” brought on by the pandemic, and she’s seen teachers’ efforts to effectively teach students struggling
with online learning.
The budget referendum is set for April 20, the hours of which will be set at a Board of Selectmen meeting for 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said.
Taxpayers will be able to vote at their designated polling places, but mail-in absentee ballots are prohibited by state statute.
Absentee ballot applications — available at the Town Clerk’s Office, as well as on the town website, bethel- ct.gov — must be submitted in person at the Town Clerk’s Office.
Those looking to vote absentee must call 203-794-8505 to schedule an appointment to submit their application and obtain a ballot at the Town Clerk’s Office.
Completed absentee ballots must then be deposited in the ballot drop-box located outside the front entrance of the Municipal Center, opposite the town’s yellow correspondence drop-box.
More information on absentee ballot voting for the budget referendum is available at bit.ly/BethelBudgetAbsentee.