Sixth Time's The Charm For Windsor Locks Budget Proposal

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — After failing at referendum five times since June 3, voters in Windsor Locks finally approved an operating budget of $60.8 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

There were two questions on the ballot:

• Shall the Town's Operating Budget for fiscal year July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 in the amount of $60,872,318, as recommended by the Board of Finance, be approved? Yes - 584; No - 476 (55.1 percent in favor)
• Shall the Town's Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District Budget for fiscal year July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026, in the amount of $400,448, as recommended by the Board of Finance, be approved? Yes - 586; No - 472 (55.4 percent in favor)

In the initial referendum on june, the two questions were overwhelmingly defeated, with opposition by 68.6 percent and 68.8 percent, respectively. Four more failed votes followed, with the latest results on July 29 indicating more than 53 percent of those casting ballots were still opposed.

At a town meeting on July 21, a two-year phase-in plan for the new taxes was adopted, as opposed to the four-year plan demanded by residents. Per state statute, the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a mill rate of 23.99 for 2025-26 at a special meeting on July 30.