Stafford Budget Referendum #3: Where are we now?

Stafford is moving on to Budget Referendum #3 (June 23, 2026), and at this late stage of the game, there’s a lot to know. So let’s break it down.

	BOS Budget	BOE Budget	Debt Service	Stafford Library	Total Expenditures	To Be Raised From Taxes
Referendum 1	$13,202,762	$31,938,183	$3,042,361	$614,410	$48,797,716	$34,252,381
Referendum 2	$12,905,289	$31,710,968	$3,042,261	$612,410	$48,271,028	$33,252,381
Referendum 3	$12,871,289	$31,646,968	$3,042,361	$610,410	$48,171,028	$33,152,381

The Mill Rate

After the second failed budget referendum, with the end of the fiscal year looming, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) voted to set the Mill Rate at 25.59, which is what it would be if the budget passes on June 23, 2026. If it doesn’t pass the Mill Rate won’t change and your tax bills probably won't either. The most likely scenario is that there will be another referendum to try and get a budget passed. In the meantime, the Town and school district still cannot spend more than they did last year until a new budget is passed. 

Ironically, because the Selectmen’s proposed budget actually represents a decrease from the current fiscal year, they would be able to spend more while in limbo than they would if the budget passed. The opposite is true for the school district, which has indicated that having any budget would be better than continuing to operate without knowing what its budget is. 

If the budget fails and is passed later at a lower Mill Rate, the most likely outcome will be that any overpayments for this year will be applied to next year’s bills. 

What's been cut so far?

Referendum 1

BOE Post-Referendum 1 Cuts			BOS Post- Referendum 1 Cuts
District dues: CABE Membership and district license fees	$25,000		Permits & Inspections (Consultant/Engineer)	$600
Purchased services: telecommunications	$16,000		General Highways (Capital Outlay: Miscellaneous. Tools)	$2,000
Retire offset	$75,000		General Highways (Equipment Maintenance Capital Projects)	$5,000
2 open para positions	$28,000		General Highways (Maintenance Trucks & Equipment)	$5,000
Food service/FRC debt and benefits	$20,000		General Highways (Road Maintenance : Equipment & Sales)	$5,000
Substitute	$30,000		Recreation Director Stipend	$20,000
FY26 Adjustments	$27,000		Special Revenue Compensation Fund (transfer out)	$45,258
District stipends	$6,215		Capital Improvement Fund for Buildings (transfer out)	$50,000
			Vehicles: Gas & Oil	$100
			IT Technology (Computer Replacement)	$1,000
			IT Technology (Software/Computer Service)	$18,000
			Registrars of Voters (Certifications)	$500
			Registrars of Voters (Conferences & Trainings)	$500
			Town Treasurer (Staff Overtime)	$500
			Town Treasurer (Conferences & Meetings)	1,300
			Town Treasurer (Office Supplies)	$100
			Town Clerk (Staff Overtime)	$100
			Town Clerk (Conference & Meetings)	$100
			Town Clerk (Office Supplies)	$100
			Town Clerk (Stationary & Forms)	$100
			Town Clerk (Health Insurance)	$34,335
			Buildings (Custodial Supplies)	2,880
			Buildings(Building updates and repairs)	$75,000
			Fixed Charges (Worker's Compensation)	$5,000
			Fixed Charges (General Liability)	$25,000
			Police Protection (Per Diem Officers)	$10,000

Referendum 2

BOE - Post-Referendum 2 Cuts			BOS Post-Referendum 2 Cuts
Health Insurance	$64,000		Transfer Station (Trash Disposal)	$3,000
			Parks Dept. (Trash Disposal)	$2,000
			Parks Dept. (Skating Rink)	$1,000
			Parks Dept. (Tennis Court budget)	$3,000
			Parks Dept. (Structure Maintenance Budget)	$1,000
			Building Maintenance	$14,000
			Community Center	$10,000

What's likely to be cut next?

During the last round of cuts, Superintendent of Schools Scott Sugarman presented two options to BOE. They ultimately chose to reduce the health insurance budget, though that comes with it's own risks given ongoing issues with the self-insurance fund. This was the maximum amount the BOE can cut from this line item and remain fiscally responsible, according to Sugarman. The other option was to leave an open position for a business teacher unfilled. The BOE chose the option that did not have a direct impact on students. However, before this relatively small cut was made, the school district discussed what could be impacted if other, larger cuts are needed: sports at the middle school, teaching positions, and the new career clusters plan, among other things.

While the Board of Selectmen has no explicitly stated what might be cut next, First Selectmen Bill Morrison has noted that services are now being impacted, which is illustrated by cuts to the Community Center and police budgets. It's also been mentioned that plans to address paving on Colburn Road are budget dependent.

How the 2025 revaluation plays into this year's budget

This year's budget season has been complicated by many factors, most notably last year's revaluation.

Residential properties increased their values much more than industrial and commercial properties did. As such, they make up a bigger proportion of the Grand List than they did last year. Geryk said that last year, residential properties made up 66% of the Grand List. This year, they represent 75% of that now much larger Grant List. Because commercial and industrial properties now represent a smaller piece of the proverbial pie, even if the budget remains flat or went down, most residential property owners would still see an increase in their taxes. So, while reducing the budget may have big impacts on the services and programs in the schools and around Town, it probably won’t do much to reduce your property tax bill. 

Using the Town’s tax calculator, Stafford Free Press ran the numbers on one of the largest businesses in town, Solventum, located at 32 River Road. Even though its assessed value went from $2,163,630 in 2024 to $3,192,840 in 2025, its taxes will go down. Exactly how much it will decrease depends on the final Mill Rate. Why? Simply put, as a percentage of its value, its assessment did not go up as much as many homes did. 

The Solventum property's assessment increased by about 47.6%. In contrast, the assessment of this reporter’s small house increased by about 73%. Geryk told me he thinks that if your property increased by about 50% that is the breakeven point. You won’t see a change in your taxes at the new Mill Rate. Fall below that and your taxes go down (just like they did at 32 River Road). Fall above it and you will see your taxes go up.

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