_____
Region 7 budget passes by more than 300 votes
By the Republican-American
Voters in Barkhamsted, Colebrook, New Hartford and Norfolk overwhelmingly approved a Region 7 education budget that will increase net spending by 1.64 percent, a figure which includes the second and final year of federal education jobs funding.
Unofficial results from all four towns gave the spending plan a 311-vote margin of victory, 588-277.
School board Chairman Molly S. Read said the board worked hard to craft a budget that addresses the district's needs in a fiscally responsible manner, and she is "glad the voting public supported that idea."
The vote was closest in New Hartford, where voters supported the budget 198-156. New Hartford's assessment for middle school and high school education will increase $153,650, or 2 percent. Colebrook will face the largest increase in the Region 7 assessment based on enrollment changes, an increase of $160,811 or 8.6 percent. Voters there supported the regional budget 240-101.
