OLD LYME–Two young men sitting with their parents in the auditorium of the Lyme-Old Lyme High School Wednesday night were recognized at the end of the 2.5-hour Town Budget Meeting for making it through a crash course in the New England town meeting form of government First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker acknowledged the boys after a record-setting crowd of more than 200 … [Read more...] about Old Lyme Town Budget Passes Easily, Meeting Serves as Lesson in Small-Town Democracy
Budget
Lyme Voters Approve $11.37 Million Budget; Finance Board Keeps Tax Rate Flat
LYME–About 55 people came out Thursday evening to approve the $11.37 million 2025-26 budget and raise the cap on a tax break for elderly and disabled residents. Members of the Board of Finance gathered immediately following the 25-minute Town Meeting to set the tax rate at 14.5 mills. The move left the rate unchanged from the current year. The newly-approved … [Read more...] about Lyme Voters Approve $11.37 Million Budget; Finance Board Keeps Tax Rate Flat
Lyme Town Meeting to Include Votes on Budget, Elderly Tax Break
LYME—The $11.37 million proposed 2025-26 budget will be among the items up for a vote at the Town Meeting on Thursday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m., in the Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Rd. If the proposed budget is approved, members of the Board of Finance have said the tax rate will remain unchanged. They plan to set the tax rate at the current 14.5 mills at their meeting … [Read more...] about Lyme Town Meeting to Include Votes on Budget, Elderly Tax Break
Old Lyme Town Meeting Postponed After ‘Larger than Expected’ Crowd Exceeds Capacity of Meeting Room, Delays Budget Vote
OLD LYME–With the crowd spilling out of Memorial Town Hall onto Lyme Street Monday evening, the Annual Town Budget Meeting was postponed as town officials put out the call for a venue large enough to accommodate the response to a sharp budget increase amid rising property values. Fire Marshal Dave Roberge immediately put a halt to the 7:30 p.m. town meeting with his … [Read more...] about Old Lyme Town Meeting Postponed After ‘Larger than Expected’ Crowd Exceeds Capacity of Meeting Room, Delays Budget Vote
Old Lyme Annual Budget Meeting to Include Votes on Spending Plan, Local Laws
OLD LYME–The $45.39 million 2025-26 proposed budget and several proposed changes to the local law books – ranging from an ordinance on golf cart usage in the Sound View and Hawk’s Nest beach areas to a $1,000 increase in the tax abatement available to volunteer first responders – will be up for a vote at the Annual Town Budget Meeting tonight. The headliner at the May town … [Read more...] about Old Lyme Annual Budget Meeting to Include Votes on Spending Plan, Local Laws
Old Lyme Selectmen Propose Increased Incentives for Volunteer First Responders
OLD LYME–Volunteer First Responders could see up to $1,000 more per year in incentives over a longer timeframe if voters approve a change to the local law books at the Town Budget Meeting on May 19. Proposed amendments to the ordinance affecting members of the Old Lyme Fire Department and Old Lyme Volunteer Ambulance Association would raise the incentive, which is part … [Read more...] about Old Lyme Selectmen Propose Increased Incentives for Volunteer First Responders
Voters Approve 7.39% Budget Increase for Lyme-Old Lyme Schools by Comfortable Margin
Low Turnout in Rainy Weather LYME/OLD LYME--The Region 18 school district’s $39.7 million 2025-26 budget has gone from proposed to official now that voters in Lyme and Old Lyme have approved the spending plan, which is up 7.39% over the current budget. Unofficial numbers show the budget passed by 457 votes to 297, which reflects 60.6% of voters supporting the budget … [Read more...] about Voters Approve 7.39% Budget Increase for Lyme-Old Lyme Schools by Comfortable Margin
Old Lyme Town Budget Hearing Uncontentious Despite Proposed 7.8% Increase Over Current Spending
OLD LYME – Board of Finance Chairman Bennett J. Bernblum on Monday presented the proposed $45.39 million budget along with its potential implications on taxes in this and coming years. The proposed $45.39 million 2025-26 budget – which includes town operations and capital expenses as well as the town’s share of the regional Lyme-Old Lyme school district – represents an … [Read more...] about Old Lyme Town Budget Hearing Uncontentious Despite Proposed 7.8% Increase Over Current Spending
Lyme Board of Finance Proposes $11.37 Million Budget With No Tax Increase
Despite Increase in D18 Spending, Budget Down Over $1M Primarily due to Reduction in Capital Costs LYME – The Board of Finance is predicting a flat tax rate after they unanimously approved a proposed $11.37 million 2025-26 spending plan that will go to a public hearing next month. The budget proposal is down $1.02 million, or 8.2%, from the current … [Read more...] about Lyme Board of Finance Proposes $11.37 Million Budget With No Tax Increase
After Much Disagreement, Old Lyme Board of Finance Decides to Take $800K From ‘Rainy Day Fund’ to Offset Tax Increase
OLD LYME – With many residents concerned by the recent revaluation that hiked the value of taxable property in town by more than 60%, the Old Lyme Board of Finance on Wednesday evening agreed to use $800,000 from the town’s 'Rainy Day Fund' to help mitigate the impact to taxpayers of a proposed $45.39 million 2025-26 spending plan. The proposed budget – which includes … [Read more...] about After Much Disagreement, Old Lyme Board of Finance Decides to Take $800K From ‘Rainy Day Fund’ to Offset Tax Increase
Lyme-Old Lyme Schools BOE Reinstates Sixth Music Teacher to Proposed Budget with No Increase to Bottom Line
OLD LYME – The Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Board of Education on Thursday voted unanimously to reinstate an elementary school music position to the district’s $39.7 million 2025-26 proposed budget while calling for harmony between the music department and district administration. The district school board called for the special meeting amid vocal opposition from some … [Read more...] about Lyme-Old Lyme Schools BOE Reinstates Sixth Music Teacher to Proposed Budget with No Increase to Bottom Line
Lyme-Old Lyme School Board to Hear from Music Department Amid Outcry About Threatened Cut to Elementary School Position
OLD LYME—After backlash to a proposed budget cut that would eliminate an elementary school music position from the proposed 2025-26 Region 18 schools' budget, the district Board of Education has invited members of the music department for a conversation about how to maintain a vibrant and appropriately-staffed music department amid declining enrollment. The proposed cut … [Read more...] about Lyme-Old Lyme School Board to Hear from Music Department Amid Outcry About Threatened Cut to Elementary School Position
Region 18 Schools’ Spending Plan Goes to Voters with $2.7 Million Increase Over Current Budget
OLD LYME – Voters in Lyme and Old Lyme will be asked to weigh the implications of a relatively steep increase in education spending now that the Region 18 Board of Education’s proposed $39.7 million budget is on its way to voters. The district school board on Monday voted unanimously to set a May 5 district budget meeting prior to the May 6 referendum. The vote … [Read more...] about Region 18 Schools’ Spending Plan Goes to Voters with $2.7 Million Increase Over Current Budget