July 31, 2025 Madison & Killingworth Vol. XXX Iss. 31
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A New England Newspaper of the Year 2018
$51M RSD17 Budget Clears After Two Failed Votes By Aaron Rubin Staff Writer
The education budget for Regional School District 17 (RSD17), which serves Killingworth and Haddam, has passed following a third attempt at referendum on July 8. The approved budget for the 2025–’26 academic year totals $51,348,789.
A total of 2,091 votes were cast, with the measure passing by a margin of 1,552 to 939. Killingworth voters approved the budget 555 to 455. The budget reflects a 3% increase over the previous year. Its main drivers include rising salaries and benefits, transportation costs, special education tuition, and $1.4 million in investments at the district’s elementary and
intermediate schools. According to Interim Superintendent Paul Smith, the previous two budget proposals were rejected because voters deemed them too costly. The first referendum included a 5.5% increase and failed to gain support. The second, with a proposed 4.9% increase, was See $51M RSD17 Budget page 10
Where Does the Good Grow? Nat Fixx tends to vegetables in the family garden plot at Bauer Park’s community garden in Madison on July 28. The garden plots—available annually through the Madison Beach and Recreation Department—offer residents a chance to grow their own produce in organic or nonorganic soil.
Photo by Wesley Bunnell/ The Source
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Kali Penders is serving shoreline youth with the only mobile outpatient clinic in the state...........2
National Competition Several members of the Westbrook Dance Academy recently competed in the Work It Dance Challenge Nationals......................................11
A Travelogue: Liz Egan wraps up her series detailing her travels with Con Brio........22