Budget Passes at First Referendum

Tolland voters passed the budget at the referendum Tuesday night, with 1,512 voting yes to .

A total of 932 residents voted "no" on the budget. 

Altogether, 2,444 voters participated in the referendum, which is approximately a 26.41 percent voter turnout. There are 9,262 registered voters in town, according to the Registrars' Office.

Resident Bob Fay commented on the budget while exiting the polls, explaining that he voted "yes" in order to prevent education cuts.

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"I voted to support the education budget," he said. However, he cited academic concerns as an important factor for his vote, as opposed to potential increases to the .

"I'm more concerned with programs being cut. We're already used to paying for sports," he said.

Voter Cheryl Quirk also said that she voted yes, because she believed it was a "fair budget."

Two residents who voted against the budget said they hoped the budget would be trimmed of any unnecessary increases. 

Last year, the budget before being passed.

The council will set the new mill rate on May 10, .