East Lyme Approves Budget at Referendum

East Lyme voters approved the proposed $63.1 million budget for fiscal year 2013-2014 as put forward by the Board of Finance at last night's referendum. The final tally was 724 in favor and just 224 against, out of a total of 948 ballots cast.

Voter turnout was particularly low in this referendum. By 6 p.m., just 753 people had gone to East Lyme's Community Center to cast their ballots. Considering there are more than 11,000 registered voters in East Lyme—and because property owners are also eligible to vote in a referendum, so the number of people who might have voted is even higher—that's abysmally low voter turnout. 

"It's extremely light, which is what happens when the budget is noncontroversial," said Town Meeting Moderator Eugene Cushman. "With very little increase [over last year's budget], I think people are not concerned about it."