PID:4196325. Coventry voters OK $40.8M budget, $3.7M bonding for capital projects COVENTRY -- Voters on Tuesday approved the town's $40.8 million budget for 2018-19 and bonding for $3.7 million to undertake various capital improvement projects, with both proposals passing by significant margins. The proposed $40.8 million budget was approved 856-565, a margin of 291 votes. Bonding for $3.7 million to undertake certain capital improvement projects was approved 863-557, a margin of 306 votes. Of the town's 8,379 eligible voters, about 17 percent voted in the referendum. Voting took place at the Coventry Volunteer Fire Association firehouse and at the North Coventry Volunteer Fire Department. The $40.8 million budget represents an increase of 1.2 percent, or $498,511, more than the current year. The council is considering raising the tax rate 0.4 mill to 32.4 mills. A mill represents $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed property value. Town government spending totals $13.53 million, an increase of almost 2 percent, or $260,848, more than the current year. Education spending totals $27.28 million, an increase of 0.88 percent, or $237,663, over the current year. The $3.7 million capital improvement plan would begin either in the 2019-20 fiscal year or the 2020-21 fiscal year. The plan involves making improvements to schools, the library, Town Hall, and the bridge over Jones Crossing Road. Major projects that the bonding will fund include $711,140 for code work for upgrades at the schools and town buildings, including fire doors at Coventry High School, removal of oil and propane tanks at various schools and town buildings, and removal and replacement of asbestos flooring at the high school. Air-conditioning and mechanical repairs at various school buildings is expected to total $2.1 million, including exhaust and fresh air modifications and replacement of a ventilator at the high school. Replacement of the culvert and improvement of the road and intersection on and around the bridge over Jones Crossing Road is expected to cost $700,000. "I'm thankful for the people who came out and used their voice for the community," said Board of Education Chairwoman Jennifer Beausoleil. Beausoleil attributed both referendum items passing to the voters being well informed about the budget. "I think there was a lot of very good information out about the budget and the bond proposal," she said. Town Council Chairwoman Joan Lewis called the passage of the two referendum items "excellent news." "We really put a lot of effort to keep the cost down," she said. Councilman Jonathan Hand said, "It's very encouraging that the town supported the budget and the bonding. It's a resounding yes." "I'm glad it passed and now we can move forward," Republican Town Chairman Matthew O'Brien Jr. said. He said that, hopefully, the town can replace the library's heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system and boiler. Both Lewis and O'Brien expressed cautious optimism regarding the impending vote by the council on the town's tax rate. Lewis said depending on what the state provides the town in revenue, the proposed tax rate could decrease. O'Brien said that "if things are improving with the state, it could be diminished to nothing." A date has not yet been set as to when the council will set the fiscal year 2018-19 tax rate. Town Manager John Elsesser has said that it would likely happen either during the regular council meeting on May 21, or June 4.