With just under 9% of eligible voters casting ballots in this year’s Annual Town Meeting Vote (1,124 out of 12,549), Wilton’s proposed FY 2025 budget passed automatically because voter turnout did not meet the 15% threshold set by the Town Charter.
The $140,339,906 town budget represents a 4% increase over FY 2024.
The polls in the adjourned vote closed on Saturday, May 11 at 6 p.m. This followed the Annual Town Meeting held on Tuesday, May 7 with voting that began immediately after the meeting ended Tuesday evening.
Of the votes that were cast, a majority (707) voted to approve the budget as proposed by town officials; 394 voted “No, too high” and 11 voted “No, too low.”
On the other six ballot questions, all five capital bonding referendums were approved by majority votes, and voters also approved an ordinance amendment allowing breweries to manufacture and sell beer in town.
Wilton Registrar of Voters Karen Birck confirmed the vote totals in an email to GOOD Morning Wilton on Saturday evening.
The five referendums approved include:
- $3,862,000 for a new chiller, unit ventilator and ceiling tiles at Middlebrook School: Yes — 914, No — 201
- $1,903,000 for roof replacement also at Middlebrook: Yes — 960, No — 159
- $1.6 million for reconstruction work on Scribner Hill Rd.: Yes — 804, No — 309
- $1,585,000 for renovations at Town Hall: Yes — 816, No — 305
- $540,000 for general road restoration (paving): Yes — 953, No — 161
- Liquor ordinance amendment: Yes — 966, No — 150
This First Selectman Toni Boucher‘s first budget process since she was elected to office last November.
Saturday evening she told GOOD Morning Wilton that she was pleased and gratified by the wide margin of support for the budget worked on by all town officials, and she thanked the voters.
“[I’m] grateful to the voters for recognizing the difficult budget year we were facing and the hard work that the Board of Selectmen, Board of Education and Board of Finance put into balancing the needs of the town and collaborating closely to achieve a responsible result the voters could support,” she wrote in a text.
“It speaks to making sure we communicate consistently and work together cooperatively,” she added.
Wilton Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Smith also was pleased with the outcome.
“We’re grateful for the continued support of the Wilton community and especially grateful for the strong partnership with Wilton’s Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance.”
Of the people who voted, more than half voted that the budget was to high. Makes me wonder what would have happened if it was a much higher turnout. Hopefully this will influence next year’s budget.
That’s not correct. Out of 1,124 voters, 394 voted “no, too high.” That is 35% of the votes cast.
A significant majority (63%) voted to approve the budget: 707 out of 1,124 total votes.
Over the years I have regularly remarked at board meetings and in the press about the low voter turnout for arguably the most consequential of elections. The Town Annual Meeting, it’s about what happens here in Wilton. But yet again, the number of people getting out to vote is shameful (8.9%). Some have told me in past years, don’t shame me… it’s impossible for me to get to the polls.
Well, I’m stepping up again and doing so. The most fundamental civic DUTY an American citizen has is to vote. Why haven’t you???
Don’t tell me you’re busy, don’t tell me you can’t get a baby sitter, don’t tell me your kids are on a travel team, and on and on and on. If you deemed it important / necessary you’d find a way. I’m not convinced the typical town resident eligible to vote thinks to themselves, I don’t have to vote, the 15% rule will see the budget passed. Apathy??
My wife & I had to be hours away by car, Saturday afternoon for an event… so we left the house 15 minutes earlier so we could vote before leaving town. It’s that simple. Being an American comes with personal responsibilities. Few seem to take this seriously. At times there’s talk, but in the end, no follow through.
And Dr. Smith, your post vote “thanks for the support”… really?? 8.9% of the electorate shows up and you’re impressed with the support.
This was a challenging year budget wise with many more to come! Some people perhaps many, are going to first appreciate how much so when their tax bill arrives end of June.
We are all diminished by the 15% rule. If 15% of the electorate doesn’t vote then the budgets automatically pass. I say NO. The current Town Charter effectively takes away the voice of those who do vote when less than 15% turnout to vote. This year a dismal 8.9% made the effort. One person one vote! Votes should count, yet too often in Wilton, especially for the Town Annual Meeting those of us who vote have no voice.
Perhaps if people had skin in the game, they’d participate. Hmmmm, based on Wilton’s voting trends, I think not. I keep hearing there’s no political will to “open” the Charter for revision. I’ve also learned that should the Charter be opened for revision the entire Charter is up for review and revision, it’s not a single item review. Well, I think the Charter is long overdue for a revision that makes anyone who votes have their vote TRULY count.
So yes, shame on Wilton for not turning out to vote.
Millions of people since this country began have made the ultimate sacrifice, and millions more wounded, and exponentially countless more have had their lives directly and indirectly negatively impacted… The price… so that WE THE PEOPLE… CAN BE FREE, and that we can vote! NOT VOTING diminishes the sacrifice of so many.
So yes, shame on you Wilton for not voting.