Orange Sets Budget Referendum Date, Budget Items Discussed

ORANGE, CT — The Orange Board of Selectmen set the town’s annual budget referendum for May 17.

The Amity Regional School District budget referendum is set for May 2. First Selectman James Zeoli reminded Orange voters that they can’t undo the Amity budget vote by voting down the town budget.

“The Amity budget referendum is prior to the Town of Orange budget referendum,” Zeoli said at the Feb. 8 meeting. “... once that passes, that part of it is in the town budget, it will not be adjusted should the town budget for any reason fail, that piece is set in stone.”

Voters who want to have a say in the regional school budget need to vote at the May 2 referendum, he said.

The Amity school budget passed on the third try last year by a 233-vote margin. Bethany and Woodbridge voters were in favor and Orange residents slightly opposed.

Town officials are working through the budget process over the next couple of months. Police, town clerk, tax collector, public works and several other town departments recently presented budget proposals at a Feb. 3 Board of Finance workshop.

Police Chief Robert Gagne requested two new patrol cars and a new motorcycle; patrol cars cost about $55,000 each and a motorcycle is about $30,000. The department's roof is 50-years-old and in need of replacement and the radio mask on the roof needs replacement as well, he said, according to meeting minutes.

Public works head Robert Brinton said that the High Plains Community Center roof has leaks in two locations, and a recent examination found that the roof is in very bad condition. The proposed new roof would be a capital item expenditure.

The May 17 town budget referendum will be held from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the High Plains Community Center.