Decisions Reached In Madison's Budget & Academy Renovation Referendums

MADISON, CT — Voters in Madison's Referendums Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the 2025-26operating budgets for the town and school system, but rejected a measure that would increase the budget for the Academy Community Center renovation.

The town's operating budget of $35,307,161 was approved with 3,076 votes in favor, compared to 1,991, according to the unofficial results from Town Clerk Nancy Martucci and Head Moderator Laura Downes.

For the vote on the education budget of $64,837,672, it was approved 3,174 to 1,892.

First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons thanked voters for their participation.

"I’m grateful for their support for both the Town and School budgets, which I believe reflect our community priorities and focus on long-term financial planning," Lyons wrote in a statement on Facebook.

The long-gestating renovation of the Academy Community Center did not fare as well.

The project's proposed budget had ballooned by more than $8 million to $24 million, and voters rejected it.

According to Martucci and Downes, the vote tally was 3,670 against, compared to 1,413 in favor of the renovation.

"While I am truly disappointed that the public chose not to proceed with the Academy Community Center project, I am sympathetic to their many concerns during these tumultuous times," Lyons wrote. "From day one, this project has always been community driven, and now the community has determined its outcome. I have always felt strongly that the future of major Town assets, such as this, should be decided by the public, not by elected officials.

"When the Academy referendum passed the first time in early 2022, we were emerging from COVID and voters saw the wisdom in creating a facility that celebrates togetherness rather than sows division. Now, we are in a different time. Many are in a very pessimistic mood – they are worried about the direction of our country, nervous about their economic future, and exhausted by a barrage of negative rhetoric. The Academy vote offered people a chance to voice their opinion on the only realistic way for us to proceed given the headwinds we faced, and now we as Town leaders need to listen to them. I want to give my heartfelt thanks to the Academy volunteers over the years, including the current building committee. Your dedication and perseverance was notable, and we are grateful for your service.

"With this very definitive vote, we can now turn the page on the community center project and find a new path forward, one that we can all walk together."