Stafford schedules June 23 referendum on $48.17 million budget; town meeting adjourned until results are recorded

A special town meeting in Stafford Springs on June 6, 2026, approved a resolution removing “item number one” from the posted call and set a referendum on June 23 on a proposed $48,171,028 budget for fiscal year July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the meeting record shows.

The resolution, read at the meeting and described as unanimously approved by the Board of Selectmen at its June 4 meeting, cites Connecticut General Statute 7-7 and places Question 1 on the ballot: “Shall the town of Stafford approve a budget in the amount of $48 million, $171,028 as approved and recommended by the Board of Finance for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027?” The transcript contains that text verbatim; the article presents the budget amount as $48,171,028 to align the numeric presentation.

The referendum will be held June 23, 2026, between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Stafford Public Library, with absentee ballots available from the town clerk’s office, the resolution states. The meeting record lists the library address as “10-11 Tolland Turnpike” in one passage and as “10-11 Fawn Run” in another; the posted notice referenced at the meeting was said to have been filed with the town clerk and published in the Journal Inquirer on June 8, 2026. After the polls close, the town meeting is scheduled to reconvene at 8:45 p.m. at the Stafford community center, 3 Buckley Highway, to receive and record the referendum vote and then consider item two of the original call.

Procedural actions at the June 6 session included a nomination and unanimous voice vote to name John Wetton moderator for the meeting and a motion to waive reading of the posted call. The transcript identifies Tim Cromwell as the mover of the motion to waive the reading and Steve Garrick as the seconder; the record indicates the motion passed but does not provide a roll-call tally or list individual votes.

The resolution’s effect is procedural: removing item one from the posted call and placing the budget question before voters at referendum. The meeting record states that item two cannot be acted on until the town meeting reconvenes after the referendum to record the result. Absentee ballots will be available from the town clerk in advance of the June 23 vote.

The June 6 meeting concluded with brief closing remarks and logistical comments from participants. The town will reconvene at 8:45 p.m. on June 23 at the community center to record the referendum outcome and resume consideration of remaining agenda items.