The State Elections Enforcement Commission will look into a complaint filed by the tax watchdog group Bethel Action Committee, against the Superintendent of Schools.  BAC claims Christine Carver illegally promoted approval of the town budget in a weekly newsletter ahead of the second referendum. 

While the newsletter is only sent to some people in town, state law just requires that all residents be able to opt into this kind of community notification system--which they can.  The complaint was prompted by alleged perceived prohibited advocacy.  Wording include “The Town budget contains our maintenance account, school debt for renovations and capital non-reoccurring. It is important to remember that the town budget in many ways also supports the schools."

Carver said she did not aim to promote passage of the budget in her newsletter, merely to clarify what was included in the budget.  The commission dismissed a previous complaint against Carver for wording in the newsletter, but the referendum date had not yet been set.