East Windsor Voters Take To The Polls For Second Budget Referendum

EAST WINDSOR, CT — For the second time in two weeks, East Windsor residents voted to deny the town's budget proposal of just under $48 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year at a referendum Tuesday.

A total of 601 voters, or 55.1 percent, voted no to the proposed budget package, with 490 residents, or 44.9 percent, casting their ballots in favor.

On May 13, voters rejected a $48,100,349 proposal by a margin of 554-472, or 54 percent opposed. The Board of Finance then trimmed some items for Tuesday's consideration, seeking an allotment of $47,959,066.

Round three awaits on June 10, when voters return to the polls at Town Hall or the School Street annex from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the meantime, finance officials will again work to find some more cuts.

On Wednesday morning, First Selectman Jason Bowsza told Patch, "We’re hardly alone with budget struggles this year. Ellington failed. Stafford failed. Coventry failed. I think what you are seeing here is a response to inflationary pressures that hardworking people in our towns are still feeling, as well as frustrations with the property revaluation process that has caused home values – and associated property taxes – to rise at rates much faster than commercial property taxpayers. What I did hear heading into yesterday’s referendum was general satisfaction with the Board of Education budget, so my team and I will be looking at cost savings options on the town side of the budget. We are working hard to be respectful of the impact municipal budgets have on taxpayers, while at the same time providing services that our constituents expect and enjoy."