WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Windsor Locks voters will head back to the polls Tuesday for a sixth vote on the town's 2026-27 budget.
The referendum is scheduled for noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, according to the town.
The latest sample ballot asks voters to decide two questions.
The first asks whether to approve the town's main operating budget of $64,269,350. That budget pays for schools, public safety, public works, employee benefits, debt payments, recreation and other town services.
The proposal is about 0.9 percent lower than the budget voters rejected July 28 and about 3 percent lower than the first budget proposal sent to voters in June.
The second question asks whether to approve the town's Tax Increment Financing District budget. That proposal is unchanged from the last two referendums and about 6.9 percent lower than the first proposal sent to voters.
The capital budget is not listed as a question on the latest sample ballot. Voters narrowly approved that part of the budget July 28.
The latest round of changes followed the town's fifth failed referendum. Town budget documents say the newest proposal includes reductions to education, Park and Recreation, general government, Public Works and police.
Education saw the largest latest reduction. Town documents say the cuts and adjustments include staffing changes, supply reductions, a technology price reduction, elimination of a paid athletic-event ticketing position, elimination of a middle school library/media teacher position and other changes.
The same document says the middle school library/media center will remain open, with students still able to access library books through classroom visits, teacher checkouts or independent visits during the school day with support from a library media aide.
Park and Recreation's latest cut is tied to pool and summer camp operations. The town document says pool revenue may be increased through daily fees next summer. It also says camp savings this summer included fewer counselors, reduced staff hours, canceled trips and higher concession stand prices.
Public Works would lose seasonal labor hours, police cuts would affect salary, public relations and medical drug testing lines, and general government cuts would affect employee benefits and social services salary and wage lines, according to the town.
The vote follows five earlier referendums. Patch previously covered the first budget vote, the second referendum, the third vote, the service-cut warnings before the fourth vote, and the fifth referendum preview.
The first vote failed June 2. Voters rejected the operating budget 951-487, the TIF budget 910-522 and the capital budget 866-568.
The second vote failed June 16. Voters rejected the operating budget 852-345, the TIF budget 792-403 and the capital budget 761-433.
The third vote failed June 30. Voters rejected the operating budget 788-317, the TIF budget 712-394 and the capital budget 678-425.
The fourth vote failed July 14. Voters rejected the operating budget 1,167-290, the TIF budget 911-556 and the capital budget 880-585.
The fifth vote failed July 28. Voters rejected the operating budget 779-615 and the TIF budget 709-679. The capital budget passed 705-684.
Town budget documents say if the budget passes, departments will receive their approved 2026-27 budgets. If it fails, the Board of Finance is expected to meet Aug. 12 to discuss adjustments and approve a budget for another referendum.
Voters can review the latest budget materials on the town budget page.
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