Majority of Voters Reject Tolland Budget

Tolland voters have rejected the proposed $51.04 million municipal budget package.

With 3,367 people voting - or 36.84 percent of registered voters - the budget package for the 2011-12 fiscal year was defeated by 367 votes.

If the budget had been approved it would have increased the municipal tax rate to 30.28 mills.

The budget included $10.82 million for the general government and $35.14 million for the school system. It also included $335,501 for capital expenses and $4.75 million for debt service.

Immediately following the vote, the Democratic members of the Town Council caucused in a small meeting room on the first floor to discuss the next steps. The full council is scheduled to meet Wednesday night to discuss how to amend the revenue and expenditure package before sending it back to a referendum vote in two weeks.

Upon hearing the results, Ken Kittredge, chairman of the Friends of Tolland Schools organization, said he was disappointed by the results.

"We felt that the Town Council budget was a reasonable budget. We had hoped people would come out to support it," Kittredge said.

Resident Mike Pascuzzi, who also waited in the gymnasium of the Hicks Memorial Building to hear the results, said taxpayers have little ability to control the taxes imposed by Hartford, but know that they have a great voice within their town.

"Tonight they chose no," Pascuzzi said.

Check Tolland Patch Wednesday morning for more information.