At the midway point of today’s referendum, 998 of Newtown’s 19,148 registered voters had visited Newtown Middle School to cast their four-question ballot. That represents 5% of the town’s voters appearing in person as of 1 pm.

Voters are deciding the fate of a proposed $48,834,506 Board of Selectmen/municipal budget. That figure, approved by the Board of Finance in February, represents a $1,308,366 or 2.75% spending increase.

The referendum also includes the proposed Board of Education budget. Following the Board of Finance’s review in February, the BOE proposal is $88,817,373, a $3,747,722 or 4.4% increase over last year.

Voters also have secondary questions for each proposed budget: If the proposed sum for the Board of Selectmen/Board of Education (respectively) is not approved, should the revised budget be higher.

The polling location opened at 6 am and will remain open until 8 pm. All voting is being conducted in the gymnasium of Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street.

The Office of the Registrar of Voters received 46 absentee ballots, which will be opened and counted after the close of polls at 8.

Read more here: Council Approves Board Of Education Budget Without Cuts On Split Vote

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.