Preston Residents Reject Budget Proposals in Overwhelming Manner
Preston residents decisively voted down proposed 2025-26 town and school budgets at a referendum last Thursday, with the general government budget failing 383-188 and the school budget rejected 403-168. The large margin of defeat led the Board of Finance to convene an emergency meeting to discuss cuts to the budget. The Board agreed to reduce the school budget by $400,000, the library budget by $25,000, and various other departmental expenditures. These cuts will impact employee salaries, infrastructure projects, and town services.
Key Takeaways:
- The proposed 2025-26 town and school budgets were rejected by overwhelming majorities, with the general government budget failing 383-188 and the school budget rejected 403-168.
- The Board of Finance decided to cut $400,000 from the school budget and $25,000 from the library budget in order to convince residents to approve the budget at the next referendum.
- The town is expected to reduce employee salaries by 1% and tax rate increase by 0.88 mills from the original proposal.
- The Preston Riverwalk project's timeline was pushed back due to environmental cleanup delays, with a new deadline set at January 2026.
- The next referendum on the budget is expected to be held on June 18, and the next budget town meeting on June 5.
Statistics:
- Total registered voters that cast ballots: 19%
- Budget cuts agreed upon by the Board of Finance: $810,000
- Reduction in tax rate increase: 0.88 mills
- Reduction in employee salary increase: 1%
- Original proposed tax rate increase: 3.47 mills
- New proposed tax rate increase: 2.59 mills
- Total tax rate: 29.56 mills
- Dates: January 2026(new deadline for Preston Riverwalk project), June 5 (next budget town meeting), June 18 (next referendum on the budget)
Sources:
- "Preston residents reject budget proposals in overwhelming manner." The Day (New London, Conn.).
- Allyn-Gauthier, Sandra. Quoted by The Day (New London, Conn.).