Despite concerns about , the budget will not go to referendum for the first time in five years.
To mandate a referendum, residents had to present a petition signed by two percent of the town’s registered voters within 21 days of the town meeting, according to town charter. The 2012-13 budget season required signatures from 206 electors by May 29.
Mansfield Town Clerk Mary Stanton said she had not received any documentation by the deadline.
At the May 8, annual town meeting, a $45,037,040 budget – not including a $214,000 contribution to the town’s fund balance – was adopted through a paper vote following a nearly two-hour community discussion.
The 274 total votes cast accounted for 2.67 percent of all eligible voters, according to the . There are currently 10,255 registered voters in Mansfield.
The 2012-13 budget represents an increase of $889,900, or two percent, over the current fiscal year's budget.
Under the approved budget, taxes are expected to increase by 1.8 percent, or .48 mills, bringing the mill rate to 27.16.
The impact on a taxpayer with a single family home with a median value of $241,543 would be $81 in taxes, according to information provided by the town.
