Ellington Voters Return To Polls For Second Referendum On 2025-26 Fiscal Year Budget

ELLINGTON, CT — After rejecting a budget proposal of $72.84 million at referendum two weeks ago, voters in Ellington returned to the Senior Center Tuesday to cast their ballots for or against a slightly smaller allotment.

This time, the proposed budget of $72,764,777 passed overwhelmingly, with 63.3 percent of the voters in favor. The tabulation of 1,187 yes votes and 689 opposed represented a turnout of 16 percent of the town's 11,731 registered voters.

On May 27, just 9 percent of the electorate voted, with 464 in favor and 598 against

The town's mill rate will increase 1.1 percent over the current fiscal year. A mill rate represents an amount of tax per $1,000 of the assessed value of property.

"We are happy that voters returned to the polls and accepted the latest budget proposal," town administrator Matthew Reed told Patch. "We take our responsibility as stewards of the public’s tax dollars very seriously. At the same time, we know that we must maintain our excellent school system and provide other necessary community services. Ellington continues to be a great place to grow. "