• As required by the Newtown Town Charter, the Board of Education budget must be submitted to a town-wide referendum for approval.
• The referendum question that appears on the ballot is the exact resolution passed by the Legislative Council, without any amendments (Charter Section 3-25[h]).

The proposed Town Budget shall be submitted for adoption at a referendum to be held on the fourth Tuesday of April.

To protect the fairness of the process, state law includes strict guidelines about how public resources can (and cannot) be used when a referendum is pending. 

❌ Prohibited Use of Public Funds (Once a Referendum is Pending) 

State law prohibits the use of public funds to advocate for a “yes” or “no” vote on a pending referendum. This includes: 

• Sending advocacy messages through school email or robocalls
• Operating phone banks using district telephones
• Printing flyers on school copy machines
• Posting advocacy materials on school websites, including PTO/PTA pages
• Sending flyers home with students that support or oppose the referendum outcome

✅ Exception: Neutral reminders about the date, time, and location of the referendum may be included in regularly scheduled school newsletters.

Even indirect expenditures of public funds are prohibited. This includes: 

• Using students as couriers to send home advocacy material —whether prepared by school officials or third parties like PTAs
• Using the school district’s automated communication systems to distribute referendum advocacy messages
• Maintaining advocacy content on school or district websites—such material must be removed once the referendum becomes pending

A referendum is considered “pending” only after all legal steps have been completed and the referendum question has been officially approved by the appropriate municipal body. 

According to the Newtown Town Charter, no later than the second Wednesday in April, the Legislative Council shall approve a proposed Town Budget to be submitted for final adoption at the Annual Town Budget Referendum.

Even if the referendum date is known, advocacy restrictions begin only once the specific question is finalized and approved.

• Board of Education members and public school officials retain their constitutional right to speak publicly in favor of (or against) a referendum question—in their personal capacity.
• School officials may advocate at Board meetings.
• Other school employees may also speak out, as long as it is done voluntarily and on their own time (outside of work hours and without using school resources).