From the conspicuous absence of more than a handful of residents at recent public hearings to the sidelines of sporting events and on social network sites, there is little evidence that local taxpayers are talking about, or even realize, the 2018-19 budget referenda are happening on Tuesday, April 24.Download an application here.The Newtown Bee, "I would like residents to support the budgets, but my overarching hope is that people will come out to vote."

Polls will be open at Newtown Middle School on Queen Street from 6 am to 8 pm on referendum day. Any person who is a registered voter in the Town of Newtown or who is a US citizen assessed for at least $1,000 for real estate or motor vehicles on the 2017 grand list for the Town of Newtown is qualified to vote at the referendum.

Voters have the opportunity to accept or reject the Board of Education's request and the proposed municipal budget separately. The municipal budget contains debt service expenses for all capital borrowing including for school district projects.

Each spending authorization is accompanied by a ballot question that asks voters whether they think each individual budget should be higher if it is not approved.

Voters can accept or reject a municipal budget proposal of $41,066,967, and a school budget of $76,054,231.

In addition, voters can accept or reject two bonding authorizations: $1.5 million for the planning, design, engineering, reconstruction or construction of town roads; and separately, bonding $1,685,400 to complete the replacement and/or renovation of certain sections of the Middle Gate School roof.

Finance Director Robert Tait has confirmed that if both budgets are passed, they will result in an increase of the 2018-19 mill rate to 34.24 mills. A mill represents $1 in taxation for every $1,000 in taxable property.

The sum of the two combined spending plans is $117,121,198 - a 2.35 percent increase over the current year.

The school district request represents an increase of 2.31 percent over the current year, while the municipal proposal represents a 2.4 percent bump.

Any qualified person who meets any of the following criteria may vote by absentee ballot: active service in the Armed Forces; absence from the town during all the hours of voting; illness; physical disability; religious tenets which forbid secular activity on the day of the referendum or; duties as a referendum official at a polling place other than your own during all hours of voting.

Absentee ballots can be returned in person to the office of the town clerk by 4:30 pm, Monday, April 23, or by mail or designee before the closing of the polls on referendum day - 8 pm on April 24.

Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia Halstead is also holding a Saturday absentee voting session Saturday, April 21, from 9 am to noon, for anyone wishing to cast a budget ballot, who cannot appear at the polls in person.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal and Selectman Jeff Capeci are holding a budget information session to answer any questions taxpayers may have about the municipal budget request, on Saturday, April 21, from 8 to 10:30 am. Anyone wishing to attend can enter the Municipal Center through the door nearest the First Selectman's Office - the info session will be held in the Council Chambers.

Earlier this week, Mr Rosenthal told 

Taxpayer cost to conduct the annual budget referendum is $10,000.