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/sots/LIB/sots/ElectionServices/ElectForms/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 alternatively, you can download an absentee ballot application from the Connecticut Secretary of State’s website at:

http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/LIB/sots/ElectionServices/ElectForms/electforms/aabeng.pdf

Please fill it out completely and mail it to:

Town Clerk
Town of Easton
225 Center Road
Easton, CT 06612

Mailing: Mail it immediately; do not wait. The Town Clerk will mail the ballot back to you. Fill in the ovals in ink and mail it back to the Town Clerk and your vote will count.

Faxing: If you have access to a fax machine, you can fax the application to save time. If you do this you must also mail the original to the Town Clerk. Mail it now or your vote might not be allowed.

Be sure to follow instructions at the bottom of the application form. The Town Clerk’s fax number is (203) 261-6080.