Taxes would go up 3.83 percent next fiscal year if voters approve all three questions on next Tuesday’s referendum ballot.
Last night, more than 250 Oxford residents packed the gymnasium at and voted unanimously to send to referendum a proposed $26.54 million school budget, a proposed $13.4 million municipal budget and a request to spend $734,000 on road repairs in fiscal year 2012-13.
The spending plan put forward by the Board of Finance would increase the tax rate to 24.1 mills, up from the current 23.21 mills, a 3.83 percent increase.
Based on the proposed tax rate, a taxpayer with a house assessed at $250,000 would pay $223 more in real estate taxes next fiscal year, which begins July 1. Currently, that homeowner pays $5,802 in real estate taxes and would be expected to pay $6,025 next fiscal year.
A round of applause echoed throughout the room when Monday's meeting concluded.
First Selectman George Temple pleaded with residents to allocate money on roads.
“You don’t have to go too far from here to see a bad road in Oxford,” he said. “When you consider this budget, this item is almost a .8-mill increase itself. It’s a very critical need. There are school busses and emergency services that drive over these roads every day. I do consider this a safety item.”
Board of Finance Chairwoman Lila Ferrillo said road repairs have been put off for many years.
“If this portion doesn’t pass, we will be right back to square one with pot holes, cracks in roads, etc.,” she said, adding that Oxford is trying to start a scheduled road repair program.
Jack Kiley, finance board vice chairman, said he’s confident the budgets will pass.
Ferrillo is cautiously optimistic.
“The only way it’s going to pass is if the school community gets people out to vote,” she said.
By the Numbers
The following is a breakdown of the budgets. Residents will be asked to vote on three proposals at next Tuesday’s referendum, which will be held from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Quaker Farms School, 30 Great Oak Road. Note: To see all of the budget numbers, check the town's website here.
1. Oxford municipal budget
Adopted 2011-12 Budget: $13,380,716
Proposed 2012-13 Budget: $13,407,217
Proposed increase: $26,501, or 0.2 percent
2. Oxford school budget
Adopted 2011-12 Budget: $25,939,146
Proposed 2012-13 Budget: $26,548,247
Proposed Increase: $609,101, or 2.35 percent
3. Capital and non-recurring
Spent in 2011-12: $98,130
Proposed in 2012-13: $734,000
Road projects included in this item include:
- Silano Drive, $304,374 (reconstruction)
- Oakwood and a portion of Redwood Road, $177,614 (reconstruction and sightline)
- Cortland Place, $78,000 (overlay)
- Prokop Road, $64,000 (overlay)
- Edgewood Road, $45,000 (overlay)
- Crest Road, $22,000 (overlay)
- Middlefield Road, $43,000 (overlay)
