CROMWELL - The last Charter Revision brought the budget referendum process to Cromwell, and the ongoing discussion regarding the town’s document may end up doing away with it.

       The Charter Review Commission is in the process of deliberating on that, in light of voter turnout over the past few years that have seen less than 5 percent of the eligible population weigh-in on town and Board of Education appropriations.

       â€�"It appears people don’t wanna take the time to come out and vote on it,” says Joe Corlis, who sits on the Board of Finance-the last body to review the budget before it goes to referendum. â€�"If there are no changes or new taxes, they don’t worry about it.”

       That was the case this past budget cycle, when Grand List growth allowed the town to absorb a reduction in state aid and maintain a flat Mill Rate.

       This year, only 225 of Cromwell’s 9,304 eligible voters came to the polls-or, 2.4 percent-according to the Cromwell Registrar’s Office.

       â€�"I really wish more people would come out and vote,” says Republican Registrar Bonnie Anderson. â€�"Everyone votes in Presidential elections, but not the area that really hits their wallet.”

       Just over 4 percent participated in the previous budget referendum-up from 3.2 percent before that, according to the Registrar.

       The previous Charter Commission switched over to a referendum by popular demand, according to Mayor Enzo Faienza, who chaired the body at the time.

       â€�"We were having public meetings and the voters were recommending that it go out to referendum,” he says.

       Charter Commission Chair Mike Camilleri is open to the change, but says that he would look for other ways to get the public engaged with the process.

       Faizena suggests moving to a town meeting style-currently utilized for areas such as bonding votes-or simply solicit public comment when the bodies convene, as other area towns do.

       Despite the turnout, Corlis says that he would keep the referendum process in place.

       â€�"If they don’t like something, people will come out and vote,” he says.