Ellington Budget Cut Again Before 3rd Vote

ELLINGTON, CT — Ellington officials have reduced the proposed 2026-27 budget again after voters rejected the town’s revised spending plan earlier this week.

The Board of Finance held a special meeting Thursday and identified $522,664 in expenditure reductions, according to the town. Those reductions also lowered associated revenues by $2,149, resulting in a net budget reduction of $520,515.

The latest proposal brings the budget grand total to $75,724,155. That includes $49,199,508 for the Board of Education, $24,704,357 for general government and $1,820,290 in capital outlay.

The estimated mill rate is now 25.42, according to the town.

The revised plan follows Tuesday’s second budget referendum, when voters rejected the proposal by 48 votes, with 1,073 residents voting no and 1,025 voting yes.

Among the reductions listed in budget documents are cuts tied to DPW payroll, health insurance, deferred compensation, social security tax, senior center equipment repair, town clerk indexing, attorney fees, youth services part-time payroll, and several outside agency accounts.

Capital reductions include removing funding for several items, including town hall renovations, library updates, classroom furniture, a sidewalk plow, school vehicles, and a fire department rescue truck. Other capital items, including road overlay work, new computers for the Board of Education, police taser replacement, and portions of police vehicle replacement funding, remain in the recommended capital plan.

The next budget referendum is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ellington Senior Center.

Absentee ballots will be available in the Town Clerk’s office beginning Monday morning, June 15, according to the town.

The town also reminded residents using its tax calculator to use their new assessed value, not appraised value, and the proposed mill rate of 25.42.