On Monday, March 22, 2021, there was a Public Hearing on the Town of Bethel and School budgets. The Board of Finance met on Tuesday evening and voted to move the school budget (2.25% increase over last year’s budget) to the Annual Town Meeting. The proposed town, school, and capital budget then go to an Annual Town Meeting.
This meeting, by Town Charter, has to be scheduled on the first Monday in April. The town meeting is for registered Bethel voters. At this meeting, the registered body of Bethel voters vote to move the budget to a referendum or voting. By charter, any resident, from the floor can make a recommendation from the floor to reduce any aspect of the budget, and the voters present vote on the motion. There are three votes at this meeting, the town budget, the school budget, and the capital budget.