Milford residents approved the town’s school budget during a tumultuous third town vote on Thursday.
Nearly two months past the first day of school, voters approved a $5.9 million budget that included instruction for the Dr. Lewis S Libby School, the town’s pre-K-8 school, and tuition for students in grades 9-12 attending various high schools.
The school committee recommended a $6.2 million budget, a slight increase from last year’s $6.1 million.
Voters rejected previous budgets in June and July, forcing a third meeting that was scheduled for Sept. 11 but canceled hours before the meeting was set to take place because Milford’s attorney found the budget warrants were not in compliance with state law.
The town’s attorney, Timothy Pease, was elected as moderator of the meeting.
During discussion of the regular instruction budget, Gary Drinkwater, who is a state representative from Milford, made a motion to decrease the instruction budget by $250,000.
Drinkwater said he motioned for the decrease because he had been getting calls from his constituents who said they were worried they “don’t know if they can afford food or oil” because of higher property taxes.
Voters approved the instruction budget of $2,930,192.10 with a 80-53 vote.
Drinkwater was not at the two previous town special meetings to vote. He said he was in legislative session and was on a personal trip during the June and July votes.
The town’s mill rate was $24.61 before the vote and was increased to $24.73 afterwards, according to Town Manager David Dionne. The new rate equates to $2,473 in property taxes for a home valued at $100,000.
Because the town already sent out tax bills earlier this month, residents will receive a supplement bill for the increase, Dionne said.
The system administration budget had multiple amendments made by residents. The original amount was voted down, an amendment lowering it by $50,000 was also voted down and the original amount was voted down a second time.
The final approval amount was $224,080.45, a $47,000 decrease owing to an audience member decreasing the proposed budget by the superintendent’s salary.
The remaining 14 amendments were approved with changes that reflected the $297,000 reduction from the two amended articles.