Simsbury proposes 2.15% tax increase ahead of town referendum.

By Petra Gammon

SIMSBURY, CT — Residents of Simsbury are facing a proposed tax increase less than one year after a 3.4% rise in the spring of 2025 was enacted.     

A budget referendum for the 2026-27 fiscal year in Simsbury is scheduled for May 16, 2026, at Town Hall. A previous special referendum was held on January 24, 2026, regarding a bandshell addition project proposal came unexpectedly.

Town officials are pushing for a 2.15% increase for the 2027 fiscal year. This would be

numerically minor, but it would amount to an almost 6% increase during an era of rising

inflation; essentials such as rent, insurance, and groceries are hitting a decade's record highs,

making increased taxes difficult to manage.

The difference is stark when compared to neighboring communities such as Newington and Wethersfield. Based on Census data, the incomes are similar, but the cost of living is notably lower. West Hartford and Avon have higher incomes, are closer to Hartford and have similar tax rates to Simsbury; wealthier communities can sustain economic changes better.

The affordability of Simsbury has changed overtime due to minor rises in costs. The citizens

have noticed. The current solution is hosting a town-wide referendum in the near future.

At the moment, intimate details regarding the change are not being shared with the public. This has made it difficult for the public to inform themselves before voting this spring. When asked for a response over email, the Finance Director Amy Meriwether referred my questions to the Town Manager Marc Nelson.

“Because the budget will move to a town-wide referendum soon, town staff are generally

prohibited from making comments,” Nelson stated in his brief reply. Nelson commented on local community tax increases, stating that the proposed increase is modest. For a budget bending alteration, his reply is frustrating and comes off as tone deaf.

Vice Chairman for the Board of Education, Jennifer Batchelar, is not making comments at this

time; she did not respond after several attempts to contact. Looking at records from years prior, the tax increases have benefited the school district. Out of all the school-aged children in Simsbury and Weatogue, 75% are enrolled in the local school system; 4,094 youth attend one of seven public school. With that making up fifteen percent of the towns total population, the increased funding was valuable. A portion of the funding went towards increasing the salaries of three-hundred-and-eighteen teachers salaries by 4.18%. The average negotiated salary for teachers in Simsbury increases around 2% per year. Past budget changes have also gone towards improving infrastructure essential to the town and other general community needs, the costs of basic services and matience have nationally increased over time.

The implications of currently proposed tax increase have not yet been shared at this time.

Simsbury's future will be unknown until after the referendum is concluded.

Although this year's increase is lower than year’s prior, it will still have an affect on the

community. Mixed reactions have been received.

Christina Lindsay, a local mother of two, is frustrated with the change. In casual conversation, she mentioned having to choose between affording summer camp and swimming lessons this year. Others understand why the changes are happening, and see positive aspects of it within the community.

Viewing this from a bigger view, the cost of living in Simsbury and Connecticut overall have

been steadily rising for a while; these changes have not been abrupt or unpredictable but have impacts on the residents. Town officials say they’re trying to keep services running without raising costs too much, but whether that balance is actually working kind of depends on who you ask.With the referendum coming up, it really just comes down to how residents feel about it and how much more they’re willing to pay at this point.