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WILTON, Conn. Residents approved Wilton's 2013 town budget and capital projects Saturday. The 800 votes for the $104.4 million budget means the town wont have to reevaluate the budget. The vote for "no, too high" was at 515, and "no, too low" received only 10 votes.
For the first time in four years, the voters had capital bond projects in front of them. Each had to pass by a simple majority, which all four did.
The $1.7 million-a-year road restoration project passed, 877 to 456. Wilton's Fire Department will get a new tanker truck on a vote of 965 for and 371 against. Comstock's roof and generator was approved, 850 to 482. The Ambler Farm project also was approved, 702 to 631. And all the school projects were approved with 843 votes to 490.
Over the course of the day, Registrars Carole Young-Kleinfeld and Tina Gardner saw a steady flow of people going to vote. Theyre voting, Gardner said, and thats always encouraging, even though only 12.12 percent of the registered voters cast their ballots.
Ed Wilson brought his 13-year-old son, Kyle, to the polls. Its a great opportunity to introduce him to the process, Wilson said.
When asked how he felt about the town budget, Wilson said he looked at everything in order of importance to the town and his family. I placed the upkeep items at a higher level than things like Ambler Farm, Wilson said.
And Kyle was the same way, when he saw that there was a project for the roads, he said hed like the town to fix them. I like to bike, Kyle said. I got a flat on my bike because of the roads.
Other residents, such as Kenneth Simone, were against everything proposed. I voted no on everything, he said, adding that nothing should have been increased.
Hillary Morrissy, who has a son in first grade at Miller-Driscoll Elementary School, said she struggled, but ultimately voted for the budgets because of her son.
I think its a shame when a lot of the older people in town voice their opinions about spending more in schools, because many of those people, she said, had children go through the school system. And the Morrissys moved to Wilton because of the schools.
For the young voters in Wilton, like 18-year-old Grace Williams, not only did her AP government and politics class stress the importance of voting, but, she said, I know that if we dont pass it now, theyre going to have to cut more.
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