Killingworth residents filed out of the elementary school Monday night without having voted on the budget.
Instead, the only vote of the evening came when residents agreed unanimously to send the budget to a town-wide referendum on Thursday, May 31, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
About 55 residents attended last night's town budget meeting during which only a handful of questions were raised — none having to do with the specifics of .
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Rather, the seemingly pointed questions were directed at a successful petition drive requiring the budget to be voted on at referendum for the first time in the town's history.
"Is it correct that this budget has been passed by the Board of Finance?" resident Scott Perry asked.
"Yes," answered moderator Rick Albrecht.
"What was the vote on the Board of Finance?" asked Perry.
"Unanimous," said finance board chairman John McMahon.
"And am I correct, the majority of the members of the Board of Finance are Republicans?" said Perry.
"That is correct," replied McMahon.
"Thank you," Perry finished.
Earlier, First Selectman Cathy Iino answered questions about the cost of the referendum, which she said would be about $3,000, including about $2,100 for poll workers.
While statute requires that a referendum be held from at least 12 p.m. until 8 p.m., Iino said the polls should open starting at 6 a.m.
"I would recommend that we expand [the hours] so that there's no question that anybody's being shut out," she said.
The referendum will take place at Killingworth Elementary School. Absentee balllots are available at town hall.
