Simsbury Budgets Easily Pass At Referendum

SIMSBURY, CT — Nearly 11 percent of registered Simsbury voters opened their wallets Friday during the town's budget vote, agreeing to about $114 million in spending for 2024-25.

And in saying "yes" to all budget questions at the annual referendum, Simsbury voters also adopted town/school spending packages expected to up the town's tax rate by nearly 5 percent.

According to town officials, the combined budget proposal would increase the mill rate from 30.82 to 32.26.

That, officials said, would result in a $9,112 tax bill for the median home assessment — or a tax bill that is $408 more than a year ago, a 4.68 percent tax hike.

The questions — all approved by a wide margin of "yes" votes — were:

• A $28.88 million general government budget, which is 8.82 percent less than current spending. The cut is mostly a byproduct of one-time American Rescue Plan Act funding in 2024, which is being used to cut the tax impact a bit, according to the town's budget mailer.

This was approved 1,361-636.

• An $85.22 million education budget, which is a 4.4 percent increase from the current school budget.

This was approved 1,308-693.

• A $19.51 million appropriation for the budgets of the sewer treatment plant; residential property fund; parks and rec special revenue fund; non-public schools; and debt retirement (among other funds).

This was approved 1,452-540.

• An additional $495,000 appropriation to rehab the Old Drake Hill Road Bridge, which would be added to currently appropriated dollars, for a total appropriation of $2.76 million.

This was approved 1,320-687.

• An appropriation of $900,000 in state grants; $1.03 million in donations; and $500,000 in capital reserve funding to improve the performing arts center/bandshell. This would result in a total appropriation of $2.78 million for that project.

This was approved 1,377-624.

For more information on the 2024-25 budget, click on this link.

From May 8: 'Simsbury Budgets, Tax Hike To Be Decided Friday'