Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Simsbury Board of Selectmen approves proposed FY2026'7 budget and sets May 16 referendum
Loading...
Summary
The Board of Selectmen approved the Board of Finance'recommended appropriations and capital plan and set an automatic referendum for May 16, 2026 at Simsbury Town Hall; finance staff said reduced use of health-insurance reserves raised the town tax increase to 2.3 (about $239 annually on a $450,000 home).
The Simsbury Board of Selectmen voted on April 30 to forward the Board of Finance'recommended spending plan and capital-improvement program to an automatic referendum on Saturday, May 16, 2026, and approved a package of operating and capital appropriations the board will ask voters to ratify.
Town Manager (speaker 2) asked Finance Director Amy Merriweather and staff to summarize a few late changes from the Board of Finance. Amy Merriweather, the town's finance director, said the Board of Finance reduced the planned use of health-insurance fund reserves from $1,000,000 to $700,000 and that change increased the projected tax impact. "We will be using $700,000 in health insurance fund reserves," Merriweather said. "The tax increase when you sent it over to the Board of Finance was 2.15. The tax increase is now 2.3. It's an increase of 0.76 mills. On a $450,000 home, that's a tax impact of $239 a year." (Amy Merriweather, Finance Director).
Selectwoman Diana moved that the board adopt the board-of-selectmen final resolutions and referendum questions under the town charter; Diana read the full text of the resolutions and the four referendum questions into the record, including appropriations the Board of Finance recommended: $91,543,244 for the Board of Education; $30,121,926 for the Board of Selectmen; $9,372,391 for the Sewer Use Fund, Sewer Treatment Plant, Residential Property Fund and Parks & Recreation special revenue fund; and $17,978,194 for capital, nonrecurring and debt-service budgets. A point of order raised an apparent transcription error in the Board of Education figure; the board corrected the number by friendly amendment and approved the motion by voice vote.
Tom Fitzgerald, who led the presentation of motions and scheduling details, asked the board to set the automatic referendum date; Diana moved and the board approved holding the referendum on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Simsbury Town Hall, 933 Hopmeadow Street.
On capital items, the board read and adopted CIP resolutions (a 33'page packet will be attached to the minutes) and approved specific projects and funding sources. Items announced included Simsbury High School turf and track resurfacing ($2.2 million), districtwide flooring and network infrastructure, roof repairs for town facilities, Simsbury Farms clubhouse renovation, pool plaster replacement, drainage and roadway safety improvements, and equipment purchases such as a wheeled excavator and influent pumps. A friendly amendment clarified that the ambulance allocation was for the Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association.
The board also authorized staff to issue the annual budget mailer for FY2027, with staff noting that the numbers would be updated before printing and a final proof would be circulated. Melissa (budget director) said the mailer should be to the printer no later than the following day and likely mailed early the week of the referendum. She also said there is no early voting for the referendum; absentee ballots are available through the day before and instructions will be included in the referendum warning.
Votes at a glance - Motion to adopt final resolutions and referendum questions (approvals: Board of Education $91,543,244; Board of Selectmen $30,121,926; Sewer/related funds $9,372,391; Capital $17,978,194): mover Selectwoman Diana; second recorded; outcome: approved by voice vote (unanimous). (motion read: SEG 134'SEG 196; vote: SEG 197'SEG 226) - Motion to set automatic referendum date (May 16, 2026, 6 a.m.'8 p.m., Simsbury Town Hall, 933 Hopmeadow St.): mover Selectwoman Diana; second recorded; outcome: approved by voice vote (unanimous). (SEG 252'SEG 263) - Motion to adopt CIP resolutions and project list (33'page packet): mover Chair/Selectmen; second: Diana (friendly amendment to correct ambulance name); outcome: approved by voice vote (unanimous). (SEG 266'SEG 343) - Motion to authorize issuance of FY27 budget mailer: mover Chair; outcome: approved (voice). (SEG 363'SEG 392) - Motion to adjourn: mover Kevin; outcome: approved (voice). (SEG 523'SEG 527)
Why it matters: By approving the Board of Finance'recommended appropriations and setting the referendum date, the selectmen sent the spending package and capital plan to voters for ratification. Finance changes adopted by the Board of Finance reduced health-insurance reserves to $700,000 and modestly increased the projected tax impact; voters will decide whether to approve the appropriations on May 16.
What's next: The referendum will be held May 16 at Simsbury Town Hall. Staff will circulate the finalized mailer and absentee-voting instructions; the board did not provide for early in-person voting for the referendum.
Sources: Board of Selectmen meeting, April 30, 2026 (motions and readings), Finance Director Amy Merriweather; Budget Director Melissa (all quotes and procedural actions are recorded in the board transcript).
