Sherman residents are voting on a budget today. The proposed $14.7 million budget is a less than 1-percent increase over the current year. The school portion is flat, while municipal spending is up. That's to anticipate costs from having to pay 100-percent of the Resident State Trooper program.
First Selectman Clay Cope says that cost-shift alone added $45,140 or an increase of 25.6% to that line in the budget.
Cope says even though there is a spending increase, property taxes won't go up because of grand list growth and renegotiated bonds resulting in a debt-costs savings.
The Board of Selectmen agreed to fund the Sherman Volunteer Fire Department’s entire request for additional funds for equipment, supplies, education, and radios. An increase of 5% or $7,500 was made to the Sherman Library. The Candlewood Lake Authority was funded at their full request of $77,800, or an increase of 1.3%.
Today's vote is at Charter Hall on Route 39.