Willington adopts five‑year Capital Improvement Program, closes some projects to shore up reserves

Willington voters and officials adopted the town’s Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2027–2031 after a town meeting discussion in which the Capital Improvement Committee described a multi‑year strategy to build reserves and limit future bonded debt.

James Marshall, chair of the Capital Improvement Committee, told the meeting the plan is intended to build year‑over‑year savings to offset long‑term borrowing costs and to address deferred school and town facility needs. “This plan represents year over year working towards accruing a reserve fund that allows us to hopefully offset or reduce future long term bonded costs,” Marshall said.

Committee members explained that to keep near‑term budgets manageable the committee reduced planned transfers to capital reserves and closed several older projects; the meeting record included a figure of $191,000 in previously funded projects that were closed and whose remaining balances were transferred back to the general fund.

The adoption motion for the CIP was made and seconded at the town meeting and carried by voice/hand vote (the transcript does not include a numerical roll call). Officials said some first‑year CIP items are already represented in department operating budgets (for example, lease payments) and would remain subject to the referendum outcome. If the CIP were rejected, officials said the selectmen and relevant committees would need to revisit priorities and funding strategies.

Next steps: with the CIP adopted, officials will continue work on project prioritization and savings accumulation over the five‑year horizon while the town proceeds to the May 5 referendum for operating and education budgets.