Next up for the Bethel budget… a public hearing. That after the Bethel finance board approved a budget that came in at $89.3 million for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The new spending plan represents a 4.53% increase from the previous budget, and it allocates $35.6 Million to town operations, and about $53.7 Million to education. Because of health care savings, the school board’s request was cut by $764,000. Now, a public hearing on the budget will take place March 20th at Bethel High School, beginning at 7pm.