Town Meeting Form of Government
Easton
is one of a handful of Connecticut towns governed by the town meeting, through
which the taxpayers of Easton form the town's legislative body. Many important
issues are discussed and voted on at our town meetings, including new ordinances,
changes to existing ordinances, and special funding appropriations for items
not included in the budget. In Easton, every taxpayer has a direct impact
on how our town is governed. Residents are notified about town meetings by
mail and through the local papers.
Annual
Budget Process
At the beginning of each year the various town departments, including the
Board of Education, develop their budgets and present them to the Board of
Finance. The budgets as proposed are then presented to residents at a public
hearing normally held in late March or early April.
The public hearing is an opportunity for taxpayers to voice their opinions
about the budget. The Board of Finance uses this input to evaluate the budget
and make revisions/cuts before presenting a final budget to the public at
the Annual Town Meeting in late April.
It is important for residents to attend the Annual Town Meeting because, in
the past, motions have been made to reduce specific line items in the budget
before the broader public has a chance to vote. The budget is voted on at
referendum in early May. The
Region 9 Board of Education functions as its own board of finance. Its budget
is also voted on by the public at the town budget referendum.
Voting Eligibility
for Town Meetings and Referenda
Any U.S. Citizen over 18 who owns property in excess of $3,000 in the town
of Easton is eligible to vote. It is recommended that you register in the
Town Clerk's office prior to the referendum so that your name accurately appears
on voter rolls. This will help to eliminate any confusion or delay on the
day of the referendum. If you are not registered to vote, you must present
a valid I.D. and a tax bill from the town of Easton at the polls as proof
of eligibility.
To
register to vote, complete this form:
http://www.sots.ct.gov/ElectionsServices/electforms/ed671.pdf
Absentee
Ballots
To vote by absentee ballot, you must be entirely absent from town during voting
hours on the day of the election or referendum. The simplest way to vote by
absentee ballot is to go to the Town Clerk's Office in person a few days prior
to the vote, during regular hours or special absentee ballot hours, and fill
out the application and ballot yourself. Call 268-6291 for details.
Alternatively, you can download an absentee ballot application from the Connecticut
Secretary of State's website at: http://www.sots.ct.gov/ElectionsServices/Elecform.html
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© 2002 - 2005 Easton Democrats. Paid
for by the Easton Democratic Town Committee,
Marvin Gelfand, Treasurer
