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Simsbury selectmen approve FY 2026–27 appropriations, set May 16 referendum
Summary
The Board of Selectmen approved the Board of Finance recommendations for FY 2026–27 appropriations across education, town operations, sewer/parks funds and capital, and set an automatic referendum for May 16, 2026, at Simsbury Town Hall.
The Board of Selectmen voted April 30 to approve the Board of Finance’s recommended appropriations for fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and to submit those budgets to an automatic referendum on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Simsbury Town Hall, 933 Hopmeadow Street. Town Manager Marc Nelson opened the special meeting with background on the budget process and thanked staff and board members for their work.
Selectman Diana Yeisley moved, pursuant to Section 808 of the Town Charter, to approve the appropriations recommended by the Board of Finance. The motion listed the recommended amounts by fund: Board of Education and non-public schools, $91,543,244; Board of Selectmen (town operating), $30,121,926; Sewer Use, Residential Property and Parks & Recreation special revenue funds, $9,372,391; and Capital/Capital Non-Recurring and Debt Service, $17,978,194. Kevin Beal seconded the motion; “all were in favor and therefore the motion passed,” the minutes state.
The board also reviewed the four ballot questions that will appear on the referendum, each asking voters to approve one of the listed appropriations. Yeisley then moved to set Saturday, May 16, 2026, as the referendum date; Curtis Looney seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
The board authorized staff to finalize and issue a budget mailer reflecting the Board of Finance numbers; the motion approving the mailer directs staff to update numeric details before printing. Finance Director Amy Meriwether was asked to summarize recent Board of Finance changes prior to mailing.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve Board of Finance recommended appropriations and send them to referendum — mover: Diana Yeisley; second: Kevin Beal; vote: unanimous (4–0) — outcome: approved. - Motion to set automatic referendum date for May 16, 2026, 6 a.m.–8 p.m., Simsbury Town Hall — mover: Diana Yeisley; second: Curtis Looney; vote: unanimous (4–0) — outcome: approved. - Motion to approve issuance of FY 26/27 budget mailer — mover: Steven Antonio; second: Curtis Looney; vote: unanimous (4–0) — outcome: approved.
The referendum will present four separate questions asking voters to approve the recommended appropriations for the education budget, town operating budget, several special revenue funds including sewer and parks, and capital/debt service. The board’s actions on April 30 finalize the amounts that will appear on the ballot and set the date and polling hours.
