Politics & Government

Residents Vote "Yes" on Town Budget

Just over 10 percent of registered voters were all it took to pass the Town Council's budget.

Residents turned out to polls on Windsor's Referendum Day in greater numbers Tuesday, deciding to pass the Town Council's budget by 107 votes.

While one might look at the 107-vote margin in favor of the $99 million budget and say "It was a close call," when compared to 2011, Windsor residents — the percentage who voted, at least — overwhelmingly said the Council has presented a fiscally sound plan for the upcoming year.

The town's current budget was passed in 2011 by just 14 votes.

Find out what's happening in Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

With just under 12 percent of Windsor's registered voters turning out to polls on Tuesday (2,261 of the town's 19,227 registered voters), turnout numbers fluctuated at a number of polling places.

The biggest boost in turnout was seen at the Rainbow Firehouse — the only district to vote against the proposed budget. A total of 402 votes were cast in the district Tuesday, up from 215 in 2011, adding an additional 160 votes to the "No" tally when compared to last year.

Find out what's happening in Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The additional "No" votes, however, were mitigated by a sway in votes cast at Oliver Ellsworth and a drop in turnout at Poquonock School.

In comparison to 2011, Ellsworth School reported 43 additional votes in favor of the budget, and decreased turnout in Poquonock cost the district 70 "No" votes as the district's "Yes" votes held steady.

Town Council member William Herzfeld said the town's approval of the budget a sign that the vast majority of residents are pleased with the work the Town Council has done, and the way funds have been managed.

2008 is the last time the Town Council's budget was voted down by residents. 17 percent of registered voters turned out during the referendum that approved that budget.

Over the past three years, voter turnout has steadily increased on an annual basis — just 9 percent of voters turned out in 2010; however, Tuesday's turnout still ranks as the fourth lowest turnout in the past decade.

The budget residents approved Tuesday presents a 1.6 percent increase in town spending, with a tax impact that fluctuates for residents at around 4 percent (Click here to see how the approved budget will affect your tax bill).

District Yes No Total 1 L.P. Wilson 71 59 130 2 John F. Kennedy School 281 178 459 3 330 Windsor Avenue 93 51 144 4 Town Hall 124 103 227 5 Oliver Ellsworth 283 209 492 6 Poquonock School 206 169 375 7 Rainbow Firehouse 107 295 402 Absentee 19 13 32 Total 1184 1077 2261 % 52.37 47.63


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