Windsor Budget Decided In Tight Vote

WINDSOR, CT — Windsor voters approved a revised town budget Tuesday, reversing course after rejecting the first spending plan earlier in June.

Unofficial results posted Tuesday night by Nuchette Melissa Burke showed the budget passed 1,962 to 1,872.

The 90-vote margin means the revised spending plan passed with about 51.2 percent of the vote. A total of 3,834 votes were cast, according to the posted results.

The approval came after voters rejected the first budget proposal June 2. That $158.3 million plan failed by a vote of 2,079 to 1,752, according to results previously posted by the town.

After the failed vote, the Town Council reviewed the spending plan and made changes before sending a revised budget back to voters.

The revised budget totals $156,572,340, according to Windsor Connecticut Democrats. The group said the town budget was reduced by $5,276,210, including the use of $2.5 million in opening cash.

The revised plan carries a proposed mill rate of 28.88. A mill rate is used to calculate property taxes. A 28.88 mill rate means property owners pay $28.88 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

Windsor Connecticut Democrats said the revised budget represents a 3 percent spending increase and a 1.51 percent change in the tax rate.

Much of the debate before Tuesday’s vote centered on school spending. Windsor Public Schools released materials saying the proposed 2026-27 Board of Education budget was reduced twice after Town Council requests.

According to the school district, the original proposed Board of Education budget carried a 4.97 percent increase over 2025-26. After two rounds of reductions totaling $1,350,121, the final proposed school budget reflects a 3.46 percent increase.

The school district said the reductions include staffing and program changes, operational savings and delayed initiatives.

Listed program reductions include the removal of 4.0 full-time equivalent elementary world language teachers, 1.0 FTE school social worker and 1.0 FTE band teacher for grades 3 through 5. The district also listed a reduction in paid substitute positions and said all schools would return to level funding.

Other listed reductions include technology, insurance, administrative assistance, major maintenance and instructional services cuts. The district also said “pay to play” would be implemented.

School officials said classroom instruction, special education services, student safety, mental health supports, competitive class sizes and core academic programming remain protected in the revised plan.

Burke thanked voters in her post, writing that “Windsor is worth it.”

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