Third Time The Charm? Canton Budget Voters Make Their Decision Clear

CANTON, CT — Canton voters approved a revised $52.8 million town budget Tuesday, ending a months-long budget process that included two failed referendums and nearly $2.3 million in spending reductions.

According to unofficial results released after polls closed June 23, voters approved the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget by a vote of 1,180 to 972, or 54.83 percent to 45.17 percent.

A total of 2,152 ballots were cast.

The approved budget totals $52,834,729, representing a 3.97 percent increase over the current fiscal year's approved budget of $50,816,923.

Voters were asked whether to approve the Canton Board of Finance's recommended budget after two previous spending plans were rejected at referendum.

Following the second defeat, the Board of Finance met on June 8 and approved an additional $950,000 in cuts to the proposal.

The reductions included $62,605 from town operations, $400,000 from the Board of Education budget, $50,000 from the Board of Finance budget, and $437,395 from capital improvement projects.

The latest cuts followed an earlier round of reductions totaling $1.305 million from the original proposed budget of $55,089,729.

Town officials said the revisions were made in response to voter feedback while maintaining funding for core services, including education, public safety, and infrastructure.

Under the approved budget, the town's mill rate will be set at 33.20 mills, a decrease of 0.30 mills from the current rate.

Officials estimated the reduction would lower annual property taxes by approximately $82.29 for a home assessed at $275,000, although the figure does not account for the ongoing property revaluation phase-in, so taxes for many will not necessarily go down.

Town officials also reported an estimated revenue deficit of $269,464 at the end of the current fiscal year.

The budget takes effect July 1 for the start of fiscal year 2026-27.

From June 18: 'Canton's Third Budget Referendum Comes Amid Tax Decrease'