Simsbury Makes Budgetary Decision, Will Taxes Increase?

SIMSBURY, CT — Voters Friday ended their work week by getting some work done regarding municipal and school operations, easily approving all budgets at the polls to do just that.

Voter turnout was low — 5.4 percent or 1,001 voters out of 18,493 available — but the outcome means all taxpayers are looking at tax hikes that are less than 1 mill.

Friday's budget vote occurred from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Simsbury Town Hall on Hopmeadow Street.

Approved Friday was:

• An $88.82 million Simsbury Board of Education budget that is $3.04 million larger and 3.57 percent larger than current spending. The vote was 649-352.

• A $29.6 million general government budget, a $739,192 increase or 2.56 percent hike. The vote was 653-348.

• A $16.1 million debt service/capital improvements budget. The vote was 678-322.

• $8.09 million to fund the sewer treatment plant, residential property fund, and the parks and recreation special revenue fund. The vote was 719-282.

As a result of the referendum, taxes will increase by 0.76 mills, with the tax rate increasing from 32.26 to 33.02.

For a home assessed at $300,000, the new budget translates into a $228 increase in taxes compared to what was paid a year ago.

The final mill rate will be set by the Simsbury Board of Finance at their meeting May 13.

For the complete budget referendum results and the full budget, click on this link.