A budget has been approved by Bethel residents.  There was about a 30-percent voter turnout yesterday.

The $27.34 million for the town was approved on a vote of 2,119 to 1,276.  $42.98 million for the schools was approved 2,136 to 1,259.  The tax increase is .21 percent, down from the initial proposal of a 1.13 percent increase.  First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker says that equates to a $1 or $1.25 per month for the average homeowner.

The education spending plan was rejected last month by two votes, the municipal budget failed by 29 votes.  Residents answered the advisory questions that both were too high.  The 14 capital items gained approval during the first referendum.

The Board of Finance cut $300,000 from the schools.  $240,000 was trimmed from the municipal plan.  $40,000 was cut from the fuel oil and gas account, $15,000 from police overtime, $160,000 to employee benefits and the balance from the VNA.

It took four votes to gain approval last budget cycle, pushing approval past the start of the new fiscal year.  This is the first year that a vote was held in April, about a month earlier than normal, following a Charter revision.