Bipartisan Budget Referendum

In a bipartisan vote of 6–1, The Tolland Town Council approved sending the proposed 2025–2026 municipal budget of $65,581,488 to voters for referendum on May 6, 2025. This budget reflects a 3.01% increase in spending and corresponds with a mill rate decrease of 9.92 mills (26.26%), largely due to the town-wide property revaluation. The ballot question reads as follows:

"Shall the Town of Tolland's proposed 2025–2026 budget of $65,581,488, reflecting a spending increase of $1,915,548 or 3.01% which requires an estimated tax rate of 27.85 mills for a decrease of 9.92 mills or 26.26% be adopted?"

The Tolland Democratic Town Committee strongly supports this proposed budget and applauds the bipartisan collaboration that brought it forward. The Democratic members of the Town Council have worked to ensure the budget prioritizes education, transparency, and fiscal responsibility, while also acknowledging the real financial challenges facing residents. Protecting Our Students and Schools In response to community concerns, Democratic Council Members advocated for full support of:

· All student clubs and extracurricular activities

· Tolland Middle School sports

· School Safety

· Reduce Tax Burden

To ensure these priorities were protected without increasing the burden on taxpayers, during the joint meeting, Town Council Vice Chair Chris Moran and BOE Vice Chair Jenn Gallichant explored avenues for increased education funding without additional tax increases. Vice Chair Moran ultimately motioned to use $300,000 from the Utility Internal Service Fund (UISF) and reallocating funding from the auditorium seating project to the Educational Technology Initiative. This motion passed bipartisanly, reflecting shared support for strengthening our schools while keeping taxes in check.

Commitment to Transparency and Community Feedback:

To better understand community sentiment, Democratic Councilor Jen Buckler proposed including an exit poll at the referendum, asking voters who vote “No” to share whether the budget was too high, too low, or if another reason influenced their decision. This proposal, seconded by Councilor Moran and supported by Councilor Beebe, passed with strong bipartisan approval. As Councilor Beebe noted, this kind of feedback can help “identify trends and provide valuable guidance” for future budget decisions.

Addressing a Difficult Tax Year:

Democratic members also brought forward ideas to reduce the tax burden even further by potentially using additional unassigned fund balance—not to increase spending, but to lower the mill rate. While this proposal was not ultimately adopted, it generated thoughtful discussion. As Councilor Moran stated, “This year is particularly difficult due to revaluation, and we appreciate everyone working together to find solutions.” Republican Town Council Chair Jacob Marie noted that "It is a good proposal to put out to voters. He will support the proposal at the referendum."

We Encourage All Residents to Vote on May 6

The Tolland Democratic Town Committee believes this budget represents a careful and balanced approach—funding vital services and education while maintaining fiscal responsibility and recognizing the strain many residents are under. We thank the Town Council for their bipartisan collaboration and urge all Tolland residents to review the budget and vote on May 6th. Let your voice be heard in shaping our town’s future.