[Updated] Windsor Locks Budget Referendum Today

Voters in Windsor Locks will weigh in on the 2013-14 budget at a referendum today.

The polls - Windsor Locks High School and Town Hall - will be open from noon until 8 p.m.

The budget presented by the finance committee represents a 5.23 percent increase over the current fiscal year. The increase, if approved, would create a 1.25 bump in the mill rate.

First Selectman Steve Wawruck said that the $47 million spending plan includes a $1.1 million increase over current levels and contains several important new initiatives in the areas of schools and police department.

First, Superintendent of Schools Wayne C. Sweeney is looking to expand an elongated school day and school year program.

That program takes at-risk students and expands the school day to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and stretches out the school year to July.

Currently, there are about 90 students in the program, Wawruck said. Such a program reduces the dropout rate, and puts students on a path to becoming productive members of society, Wawruck said.

Wawruck credited Sweeney with reducing the dropout rate from 22 to 3 percent. The school district was rated several years ago as one of the bottom 30 performers in the state, Wawruck said.

Sweeney, according to Wawruck, has helped turn that around with programs such as the expanded school day/year.

In addition, the budget contains funding for three new police officers, including a lieutenant, Wawruck said.

Wawruck said that in 10 months, Chief of Police Eric Osanitsch has turned morale around in the department after the Koistinen incident in October 2010.

In addition, police have been focusing on certain types of crime in town, and the three officers would continue to implement Osanitsch’s initiatives, Wawruck said.

The budget also accounts for contractual salary increases, rising health care costs and utility hikes.

The state budget passed Monday evening also helped Windsor Locks by allocating an additional $800,000 to the town.

That will keep the town from having to raid $650,000 from its fund balance, which could have affected the town’s financial AA1 rating.