Bethel residents are at the polls today voting on a tax and spending plan for the coming fiscal year.  If the budget is approved, the tax rate would would be hiked by 2.24 percent. First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker says there's some funding for the schools in the municipal portion of the plan.

Tax watchdog group Bethel Action Committee founder Billy Michael opposes the budget, saying it includes a 5-percent spending increase.

Knickerbocker says most of the proposed budget increase is because of debt service on the police station, the high school upgrades and the current renovations to Rockwell and Johnson schools. 

Residents will be asked three funding questions, with advisory questions on whether the municipal and school portions of the spending plan are too high or too low.  The budget for the coming fiscal year includes $31.9 million for the general operating budget and $46.6 million for the schools.  There is an increase in enrollment at the schools.  The municipal portion includes $5.2 million of debt service.  The increase in Debt Service accounts for 34 percent of the total increase in spending. 

The last question on the ballot asks if residents want to borrow $1 million to replace the boilers at the high school. 

One thing not included in the budget, which was defeated last year is money for a turf field.  Advocates are raising donations for a turf field, and have collected more than $ 150,000 so far.