Legislative Council members this week revised a past funding approval, reducing from $25,000 to $15,000 the town amount to be spent for a study on the local impact of tick-borne disease.

At a September 17 session, council members approved a $15,000 special appropriation to be funded through the “Sandy Hook special revenue fund” for consulting services for a marketing/messaging plan on tick-borne disease awareness and mitigation.

The town has high incidence of tick-borne disease among its residents.

In April, the council had approved spending $25,000 on the project, requiring that the agency now revise downward the town funding required for the public health educational project.

In March, the Board of Selectmen had endorsed spending $15,000 for the project.

The project was requested by public health officials based on the increasing incidence of tick-borne disease being reported in town, and the number of disease-infected ticks given by residents to the town health district for testing.

The study is intended to better understand the public’s perception and its behavior regarding tick bites and tick-borne disease. The results of the survey would be used to better inform people who are either unaware or unmotivated by the threats posed by tick-borne illness.

The Newtown Health District’s survey on tick-borne disease is available online.

The Health District office, within Newtown Municipal Center at 3 Primrose Street, also has paper copies available.