$139.2M Windsor budget goes to referendum Tuesday

Collin Atwood, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·2 min read

May 5—WINDSOR — Voters will decide on a proposed budget of $139.2 million at Tuesday's referendum.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at seven locations: L.P. Wilson Community Center, 599 Matianuck Ave.; John F. Kennedy School, 530 Park Ave.; 330 Windsor Ave.; Town Hall, 275 Broad St.; Oliver Ellsworth School, 730 Kennedy Road; Poquonock School, 1760 Poquonock Ave.; and Rainbow Firehouse, 750 Rainbow Road.

The Town Council unanimously approved the $9.3 million, or 7.17%, increase in expenditures for fiscal year 2023-24 on April 26.

The tax rate needed to fund the budget is 33.6 mills for real estate and personal property. There is a statewide cap on motor vehicles at 32.46 mills.

One mill equals $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

Town Manager Peter Souza's proposed spending was $23,100 more than what is being sent to voters.

To make up the difference, council members made changes to community development and the development services account.

The development services account increased from $1,595,680 to $1,617,230. Community development was reduced from $535,550 to $490,900.

Souza said $21,550 of the $44,650 reduction from community development went to the development services account. The $23,100 balance was then used to offset revenues for the veteran tax relief fund.

Capital projects and open space received the biggest increase in spending, with a 42.27% increase totaling $3.7 million.

Included in the funding is the addition of a new police officer and dispatcher along with a full-time employee for both the Public Works and Information Services departments.

The proposed $80.18 million school budget is a $3.7 million, or 4.84%, increase.

School officials attribute the increase to inflation, wages, and benefits.

Collin covers South Windsor, East Windsor and Windsor for the Journal Inquirer.