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Voter turnout continues to decline as all three questions gain approval
May 12, 2008
The number of voters turning out for the town budget vote continued to decline this year, with only 947 voters, or 8.6% of the 10,993 eligible casting ballots. In 2006, 14% of voters turned out, and last year 11% cast ballots.
While all three questions passed by roughly two-to-one margins, the votes themselves did not technically count, as the town charter requires a 15% turnout, otherwise the budget passes automatically.
On the town’s $107 million budget request, $68.6 million for the schools, $28.7 million for the town with debt service also included, voters approved the budget with 628 casting ballots in favor, 309 saying the budget was too high and 9 voting that it was too low.
The $500,000 request for bonding to replace the roof on the fieldhouse at Wilton High School was approved with the greatest margin, at 716 in favor and 229 opposed. The $450,000 bonding request to hire architects to design HVAC renovations, science classroom updates and renovations to the Little Theater was approved 605 to 339.
Full coverage will be included in this coming week’s edition of The Bulletin.
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