Monroe Budget Referendum 2013-14 is Today!

Do you support the $80.5 million budget proposal or do you think it's too high? Now's the time to make your voice heard. Polls are open today from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. for the annual budget referendum.

The budget proposal for fiscal year 2013-14 represents a 2.42% spending increase, a 3.44% increase in the amount funded by taxes and a 4.24% mill rate increase.

It has $52,334,919 for education (a 1.72% increase) and $20,197,349 in municipal spending (a 5.22% increase). Municipal debt service is $5,751,542. The budget would be paid for with $68,994,686 in taxes assuming a 98% collection rate.

The mill rate would increase from 29.26 mills to 30.5 mills.

A mill is equal to one dollar of tax for each $1,000 of assessed property value. Individual property taxes can be calculated by multiplying your property assessment by the mill rate and dividing it by $1,000.

Assessed value is 70% of fair market value. For example, a house with a fair market value of $300,000 has a property assessment of $210,000. The owner would pay $6,405 in taxes if the budget passes as is, for a $260 increase from the current bill.

The following are links to some of this year's budget stories:

Town Council Critical of Budget Postcard Sent to Voters

Monroe Elementary PTO Encourages Voters to Pass the Budget

MOVE Endorses a YES Vote on Tuesday

MCTV 17 Interviewed Supt. Agostine on the Budget

Agostine: Monroe is Getting Bang for Its Buck

Agostine Asks for 3.9% Hike for Monroe's Schools

Finance Board Approves $80.5 Million Budget with a 3.4% Tax Hike

First Selectman Gives an Overview of the Budget Proposal

'You Can Never Budget to Be Sued'

Kapoor Explains His 'No' Vote On Budget

Trust Income Keeps the Library's Budget Flat