Newtown residents will vote on a proposed budget during a referendum on April 26th.  The Legislative Council has signed off on a $129 million budget, a 4.7 percent increase over the current year.  The tax rate was held virtually the same as this year though.  The 3.4 percent tax base growth, and a $300,000 school budget reduction, would lead to a .07 percent tax rate increase.  If approved, the mill rate would be 34.67.  Despite the slight reduction in the Board of Education budget, the school district will be able to hire 12 new teachers.  Much of the school increase is due to pandemic response, additional special education costs, and a rising population of ESL students.