With more than the baseline 15-percent of voters turning out to the polls, Wilton residents have approved the town’s budget for FY-2017 by a vote of 1,181 to 924.
Following the Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday evening, May 3, and continued voting today, Saturday, May 7, there were 1,181 voters who voted in favor of the $125.5 million total overall operating budget, besting the 888 voters who said the budget proposed by town officials was too high (36 voters thought the budget was too low).
The exact voter turnout percentage was 18-percent, with 2,106 ballots cast.
Achieving more than a 15-percent voter turnout rate is a feat that hasn’t happened in the last three municipal budget votes. In fact, in last year’s annual town vote the budget was defeated by voters but automatically passed by default because only 11.5-percent of eligible voters turned out to the polls.
For FY-2017, there also were two bonding referendum questions on the ballot and they both passed as well.
- Appropriation of $1.8 million for year 5 of a five-year road paving project (1,636 YES, 452 NO)
- Appropriation of $650,000 for replacement of the turf field at Memorial Stadium with new coconut husk infill turf stadium with concussion padding (1,200 YES, 891 NO)
UPDATE 6:40 p.m.
First selectman Lynne Vanderslice was pleased with the turnout and had this to say about the vote:
“I am very happy with the turnout. Exceeding the 15-percent means the voters themselves were able to make the decision as to the budget and the bonding resolutions. For those who voted against the budget, I absolutely understand your concerns and will continue to try to run the town in the most cost efficient manner possible.”
Bruce Likly, chair of the Board of Education, overcame challenges to his board’s budget with today’s outcome. “I am thrilled and greatly appreciative to all those who made the effort to get out and vote.”