A number of budget votes were held in the Greater Danbury area yesterday.  New Milford and Brookfield residents attending annual town meetings also sent spending plans to referendum.

In Bethel residents were at the ballot box for the second time to decide on a municipal tax and spending plan.  This time it was approved by 189 votes.  But the overwhelming answer to the advisory question was that it was still too high.  While the tax rate will go up 1.65 percent, those opposed to the plan were concerned with the nearly 7 percent spending increase. 

Region 12 voters approved a budget yesterday for the school district covering Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington.  There's a 4.57 percent increase in spending there because of the start of the Agriscience program.  It will accept students from outside the district, who would contribute tuition to offset some of the increase.

Redding and Easton residents have approved their municipal budgets, and Region 9 board of ed budget.  In Redding, the town and local school budget passed by about a 2 to 1 margin.  Bonding for police and fire radio upgrades to enhance communications also was approved.  Spending in the Region 9 budget was held flat, but there are now more Redding students attending Joel Barlow High School than students from Easton, the other town in the district.  

Each town approved bonding for improvements to the Joel Barlow campus.