NEWINGTON - Former Deputy Mayor Maureen Klett has left the Republican Party, changing her status to unaffiliated earlier yesterday.

       The announcement came the day after a lengthy and contentious budget meeting-the final leg of deliberations that saw the Councilor at odds with then-fellow Republicans over a proposed 0 percent increase in school spending.

       â€�"I wish her well,” said Mayor Roy Zartarian over the phone. â€�"Beyond that, I’m going to decline comment.”

       While the Council passed an eleventh hour 0.5 percent increase-1.2 percent, when combined with newly permitted Board of Education surplus retention fund-Klett and Democratic Councilors said that it didn’t go far enough to restore money needed to prevent teacher layoffs and continue with district initiatives.

       â€�"What occurred last night had a big influence on my decision,” Klett said over the phone. â€�"I knew I had to. It’s an overall concern regarding an irresponsible decision driven by the need to say we lowered your Mill Rate.”

       And the $115.6 million approved budget does that. The Mill Rate-35.75-represents a drop of 0.2. Members of the Majority set their sights on preventing an increase, pointing to revaluations that would raise property taxes for 55 percent of homeowners regardless.

       Meanwhile Klett-along with Democratic Councilors and members of the school Board-warned of teacher layoffs and a halt to major district initiatives, such as the high school STEM academy and the implementation of an on-the-core seventh grade Spanish program.

       During the meeting, Klett took issue with the Majority’s rejection of motions to divert contingency funding budgeted for town side administrative raises to restore Sunday library hours, and then-after that proposal failed-Human Service contracting money.

       â€�"It wouldn’t have changed the Mill Rate at all,” Klett said. â€�"Any party that supports a 3 percent pay raise for administrators over services, I have to question how responsible that is.”

       But the library hours were removed on the advice of the Library Board, which had opted instead for funding that would allow for the retaining of positions, said Deputy Mayor Dave Nagel.

       â€�"They seemed to be me to be satisfied-although not extremely happy,” Nagel said. â€�"It appeared not to be an issue.”

       On the Human Services side, the money to hire contractors for various roles has been there in the past, but it was never fully utilized, Republican Councilors have contended.

       Klett has said that she voiced her opposition to the proposed 0 percent weeks before it came before the Board. She attributed her position on the issue to her removal as Deputy Mayor, although members of the Majority say that her vote was not the reason for the change.