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Sharon budget hearing on April 30

SHARON — Following a brief discussion at a special meeting on Tuesday, April 20, the Board of Finance voted unanimously to send both the proposed selectmen’s budget and the education budgets to a public hearing.

The public hearing is scheduled for Friday, April 30, beginning at 7 p.m. For those who wish to attend in person, the hearing will be held in the auditorium at Sharon Center School, or residents may access the hearing by Zoom.

At the hearing the Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen will present their proposed budgets for 2021-22 and hear public comments and respond to questions seeking clarification. 

Residents unable to participate on April 30 may not submit comments or questions in advance.

During brief discussion of an increase of $20,000 to the transfer station line in the proposed town budget, First Selectman Brent Colley explained that usage has increased this year, bringing with it higher costs; the town pays to dispose of trash. He said that the new facility is also larger and costs more to run.

“Everything is bigger and there are more people here” because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Colley said.

The finance board unanimously approved the town’s 5-year capital expenditure plan, moving it to consideration at the Friday, May 14, town meeting, where it will be voted on  along with the proposed budgets. 

As with the hearing, the town meeting will be held at the Sharon Center School auditorium, and it will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The proposed budgets are on the town website at www.sharonct.org, under Forms and Documents. Zoom codes for the April 30 public hearing will also be posted on that website in advance of the hearing.

Leila Hawken

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