Residents approve school budget at referendum

Town Times report

At a referendum held Tuesday, residents voted to approve the $39,426,575 Regional School District 13 budget proposed for the 20232024 fiscal year. In Durham, the budget was approved by a vote of 401 to 286. In Middlefield, the funding was approved 186 to 143.

Had both towns not voted in favor of the RSD13 budget, the Board of Education would have to craft a new funding proposal.

At a public hearing in April, school board chair Lucy Petrella described the $39.4 million budget request as “responsible and reasonable.” Petrella said, “The total budget in- crease is 3.98 percent, which is much lower than the inflation rate.”

With the 2023-2024 RSD13 budget set, next, residents of Durham and Middlefield will be asked to weigh in on their town’s municipal budget.

Durham’s annual budget meeting will be held Monday, May 8, 7 p.m., at the Community Center, 144 Picket Lane. Middlefield’s annual budget meeting will be held Monday, May 8, 7 p.m., at the Community Center, 405 Main St.

Detailed information about the towns’ proposed 2023-2024 budgets is available on the municipal websites.