Bethel Heads To Polls Tuesday To Vote On $97.5M Budget

BETHEL, CT — Bethel residents will head to the polls Tuesday to weigh in on the proposed 2025-2026 budget.

The Town of Bethel has proposed a $97.5 million budget for fiscal year 2025-26, reflecting a 5.4 percent increase over the current year’s adopted budget.

The spending plan, which includes both municipal and education expenditures, was trimmed from an initial $99.5 million request following reviews by the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance. The municipal portion is set at $39.1 million, while the Board of Education allocation totals approximately $58.4 million — an increase of about $3.6 million, or 6.6 percent.

The proposed general tax revenue is expected to rise by roughly 4.8 percent to $83 million, offsetting the overall budget growth. Additional revenue is projected from intergovernmental aid and licenses and permits.

Key areas of spending include $7.2 million for employee benefits, $6.5 million for the police department, and $3.6 million for utilities. Public works and infrastructure maintenance, including road improvements and building upkeep, also account for significant expenditures.

Debt service is projected to decrease by $267,000, or 5 percent, due to the payoff of older bond obligations and refinancing efforts.

The proposed budget includes sustained support for community services such as the library, social services, and senior center, alongside funding for emergency services and town facilities.

The proposed budget, a sample ballot, and the referendum absentee ballot application are available online here. Residents voting absentee must personally bring their absentee ballot application or appoint a family member to bring it to the Town Clerk.

Polls will be open Tuesday, April 22, at their normal locations between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.