Wallingford Fire Department requests the assistance of citizens “Help Clear Hydrants”

The Wallingford Fire Department requests the assistance of citizens to help clear hydrants.  Access to hydrants is critical to the safety of the community. 
The Fire Department is asking that residents adopt a hydrant during the winter season and make sure it is always accessible.  This is especially important given the recent volume of snow we have received. 

Please review the list of the hydrants to adopt the hydrant by your home.

PRESS RELEASE 2016 Connecticut Civic Health Index Launched

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                    

January 19, 2016                                                           

- Press Release -

2016 Connecticut Civic Health Index Launched

IN-DEPTH REPORT MEASURES CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT IN THE CONSTITUTION STATE IN VOTING, VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Hartford:  A coalition of groups — including the Secretary of the State, Everyday Democracy, the National Conference on Citizenship and DataHaven — launched the 2016 Civic Health Index Report today. The survey evaluates the depth of citizen engagement through a variety of indicators such as voting, volunteering and other forms of community involvement. 

The report (DOWNLOAD HERE) gives Connecticut relatively high marks compared to the national average for volunteering (29.1 percent vs. 26.2 percent) and charitable giving (57.9 percent vs. 50.7 percent) in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Residents in Connecticut are also more likely than the rest of the country to have attended a public meeting (10.5 percent vs. 8.7 percent) or worked with neighbors to fix or improve something in the community (9.2 percent vs. 8.2 percent) during those years.

However, there are areas that reveal a stark need for improvement and subjects that are considerable cause for concern. 

Deep inequalities in income in Connecticut have had a negative impact on the civic engagement of people living in those communities. The report notes: “The stark contrast between the wealthy and the poor in our state — the so-called ‘Two Connecticuts’ — is as evident in statistics on voting behavior as it is in educational opportunity. Despite a generally higher level of educational attainment in our state, people who are poor or who have lower levels of formal education participate less in our government at all levels. This continues to be the primary challenge for the state, one that the data and findings in this report corroborate.”

In addition to socio-economic issues, the report raises question about how to engage particular demographics in political life. Young adults (18-to-24-years-old) in particular show lower levels of political and civic engagement. The report finds, “In 2013, young adults were significantly less likely than others to attend a public meeting (2.1% of adults 18 to 24 years compared to 11.8% of all other adults) or to give to charity (23.9% of adults 18 to 24 years and 62.5% of adults 25 years and older). Meanwhile, older people were much more likely to engage civically. Of the Silent Generation, 18.6% had attended a public meeting, and 70.2% donated to charity.” The report also notes that young adults were less likely to register and cast votes.

More work must be done to engage other communities as well. For example, voter turnout in the Latino community (47 percent in the 2012 presidential election) is considerably lower than among whites (65.8 percent) and African-Americans (62.2 percent). However, the report does identify programs that are working to increase participation, such as the Hartford Vota Coalition’s Latino Voter Engagement Project. An evaluation of the project found that 64 percent of the canvass participants voted in the 2012 Presidential Election and that those who were canvassed twice voted at a rate of 21 percent higher than the others. In addition, voter turnout among those who were part of the canvass was 9.1 percent higher than overall turnout in the same voting districts and 6.7 percent higher than the citywide turnout rate. 

In 2011, Connecticut released its first Civic Health Index. The project has grown nationally to more than 30 communities nationwide. 

The findings of the report are based on an analysis of the Census Current Population Survey, as well as other locally-available data sources, by the National Conference on Citizenship, DataHaven, and other partners involved in this project. The National Conference on Citizenship is a congressionally chartered organization dedicated to strengthening civic life in America.

Secretary Merrill said, “One of the most obvious metrics of civic health is voting. In recent years, we’ve made great improvements on voting access and convenience. However, democracy does not begin and end on Election Day. Strong communities depend on citizens who are working with each other as well as their elected officials. This report will help us identify areas of democratic participation that are in need of improvement and to focus our energies toward making them better.” 

Martha McCoy, Executive Director of Everyday Democracy, said, “Knowing the state of Connecticut’s civic health can help us gauge how well our communities are prepared to deal with economic adversity. Two studies commissioned by the National Conference on Citizenship and conducted by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University in 2011 and 2012 found that communities with stronger civic health are more resilient when hardship hits, have more effective governance, and are better places to live.”

Jeff Coates, Director for Research and Evaluation at the National Conference on Citizenship said, “The Connecticut Civic Health Index serves as an important tool for innovation and exploration to get people more involved in their democracy. This report reveals Connecticut’s civic health strengths and weaknesses. Working together, I know Connecticut residents can leverage their strong volunteering and neighborhood networks towards greater community action and an even better civic life.”

Mark Abraham, Executive Director of DataHaven, said, “This report is a measure of whether Connecticut residents feel included in the workings of society and government — key factors that along with other determinants such as income and health are among the major drivers of well-being and happiness at a population-wide level. We were pleased that we could supplement the national data from the Census with new neighborhood-level information from the DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey's recent interviews of over 16,000 representative adults throughout Connecticut. The 2016 Civic Health Index report and future work by the partners involved will enable local communities to have the information that they need to effectively promote civic health.”

Michelle Riordan-Nold, Executive Director of the Connecticut Data Collaborative said, “This report adds to a growing base of civic data available in Connecticut and will enhance the ability of citizens, policymakers, and organizations to engage in data-driven decision making at the state, regional, and local level. We were pleased to be able to build an interactive website (http://civichealth.ctdata.org) to facilitate greater distribution of the important findings presented in this report.”

The majority of the data used within this report were collected through two supplements to the Current Population Survey: the Volunteer Supplement and the Civic Engagement Supplement. The Current Population Survey is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households (approximately 100,000 adults), conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau on behalf of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The selected supplements collect data on the volunteering, voting, and civic activities of adults age 16 and older for volunteering and 18 and older for the civic supplement. Volunteers are considered individuals who performed unpaid volunteer activities through or for an organization at any point during the 12-month period (from September 1st of the prior year through the survey week in September of the survey year).

To access the full report, click here.

Connecticut Civic Health Indicators and Findings

	Latest Connecticut Estimates (from 2013, except for voting and registration)	Latest Ranking	Latest U.S. Estimates (from 2013, except for voting and registration)
Volunteering	27.8%	22	25.4%
Charitable Giving ($25 or more)	56.2%	12	50.1%
Attended a public meeting	10.4%	19	8.3%
Working with neighbors to fix or improve something in the community	8.6%	22	7.6%
Voting (2012)	62.7%	26	61.8%
Registration (2012)	70.5%	34	71.2%
Exchanging (giving or receiving) favors with neighbors (Frequently) [1][3]	11.7%	33	12.1%
Eat dinner with a member of household (Frequently) [1][3]	88.7%	28	87.8%
Talk about politics with friends and family frequently (Frequently) [1][3]	27.8%	29	27.0%
Contacted or visited a public official [1]	13.8%	19	10.8%
Bought or boycotted a product[1]	14.0%	21	12.8%
Voted in local elections (Sometimes or Often) [1]	63.5%	24	58.5%
Group membership [1][2]	35.1%	36	36.3%
Leadership role in organization[1]	11.3%	25	9.7%
Confidence in Corporations (some or a great deal of confidence) [1]	63.9%	36	64.5%
Confidence in Media (some or a great deal of confidence) [1]	59.2%	12	55.0%
Confidence in Schools (some or a great deal of confidence) [1]	88.1%	13	84.5%

Notes:

[1] For all of the indicators from the Civic Engagement Supplement (such as talking about politics and doing favors for neighbors), data are available for 2011and 2013 and the pooled data represents those two years, as the Civic Engagement Supplement was not administered in 2012.

[2] The percentage point estimate refers to the portion of people who said they belong to any of the groups presented (religious, school, neighborhood, civic or sports/recreation). If you would like separate estimates for different types of organization, please contact your liaison at NCoC.

[3] Frequently is a few times a week or more.

[4] Connecticut’s raw sample size was 1904 in the 2013 Volunteering Supplement and 2056 in the 2012 Voting Supplement. The 2013 Civic Supplement was administered to a third of those surveyed and samples sizes for questions ranged from 509 to 767. The size of margin of error can vary depending on the sample size, and the estimated rates. Based on our calculations, MOE range from +/- 4.2% for confidence in media to +/-1.3% for “working with neighbors.”

-30-

Patrick Gallahue

Communications Director

Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill

W:  860.509.6255

C:   860.463.5939

patrick.gallahue@ct.gov

Wallingford Town Council Swearing in Ceremony JAN 4, 2016

Wallingford Town Council Swearing in Ceremony
January 4, 2016

Some costs on raising a family (well, mine anyway) in Wallingford, CT from about 2007 through 2015

I wrapped up my tally of bills for 2015 and compared them with years gone by to see how costs have gone up and / or where we are consuming more.

Here are some of those details for my family of six (seven when you consider my mother-in-law lives here six months out of the year); obviously there are other kinds of costs to presume but these are the easiest to represent of the ones I tracked.

My kids will range in ages of 12, 10, 8, and 7 in 2016.

Wallingford annual budgets
2015-16 $155.73 million
2014-15 $152.29 million
2013-14 $147.94 million
2012-13 $145.10 million
2011-12 $141.00 million
2010-11 $140.38 million
2009-10 $139.77 million
2008-09 $135.00 million
2007-08 $135.00 million
2006-07 $129.00 million
2005-06 $122.80 million
The annual budget has increased 26.8% in total over the 11 years I have recorded.
That is an average increase of 2.436% a year

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Wallingford Mill Rates
Millrate Grand List Fiscal Year
27.47    2014
26.89    2013
26.22    2012
25.98    2011
25.22    2010
24.08    2009
23.20    2008
22.90    2007
The Mill Rate has increased 19.9% in total over the 8 years I have recorded.
That is an average increase of 2.4875% a year

---------------------------------------------

Property Appraisal (value) and Assessment (for taxing purposes) - 35 Lincoln Drive EXT
4 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
2 fireplaces (pellet stove inserts)
2,050 total living area (includes finished lower level)
0.50 acres (land) 

2015 Appraisal      - $289,900
2015 Assessment - $202,900
(based on revaluation).

2010 Appraisal      - $280,000
2010 Assessment - $196,000
(based on revaluation).

2004 Appraisal      - $265,000
2004 Assessment - $185,500
(based on sale price).

2002 Appraisal      - $237,000
2002 Assessment - $165,000
(based on sale price).

Appraisal change since 2002   +22.3%
Assessment change since 2002   +22.95%
That is an average increase of value of about 1.616% a year over the 14 years.
I have made no major improvements to the property.

---------------------------------------------

Property taxes (for my home)     

$5,327.22 - 2015
$5,231.62 - 2014
$5,165.96 - 2013
$5,142.44 - 2012
$5,192.80 - 2011
$4,613.56 - 2010
$4,527.66 - 2009
$4,469.16 - 2008
$4,225.22 - 2007
$3,814.55 - 2006
$3,481.94 - 2005
Increase in total over the 11 payments on record   +53%
That is an average increase of 4.818% a year
I have made no major improvements to the property.

 

The annual budget has increased 26.8% in total over the 11 years I have recorded.

The Mill Rate has increased 19.9% in total over the 8 years I have recorded.

 

My taxes have increased 53% over the past 11 years.

 

The value of my home has grown from $265,000 in the same 11 year span (since 2004) to $289,900.

 

That is a gain of 9.4%. My taxes increased 43.6% more than the value change of my home; that means the burden has shifted more to my residential dwelling than to other taxable entities in Wallingford (e.g. commercial / industrial).

 

The annual budget (the cost of running the town) has increased 26.8%. When you consider the differential of 43.6% above (the rise of the cost of doing business), that leaves a change of 16.8%.

 

16.8% more that I am paying, adjusted for inflation, than I was 11 years ago and it takes into consideration for the upwards rise of my home's value.

 

That shows the shrinking and shifting tax base of Wallingford TOWARDS the residential homeowner / property owner.

---------------------------------------------
Wallingford Electric

$1,942.89 for 2015, a total of 16,544 KWH
$2,041.30 for 2014, a total of 17,396 KWH
$1,953.73 for 2013, a total of 16,520 KWH
$2,273.09 for 2012, a total of 18,566 KWH
$2,129.10 for 2011, a total of 16,850 KWH
$2,257.42 for 2010, a total of 16,890 KWH
$2,458.02 for 2009, a total of 20,376 KWH
$2,116.04 for 2008, a total of 18,039 KWH

---------------------------------------------
Cable TV - primary service (not the add-on international service for my wife)
$1,452.66 for 2015 - Comcast
$2,306.16 for 2014 - Uverse/Frontier (NOV)/Comcast (DEC)

$2,161.38 for 2013 - Uverse
$2,389.05 for 2012 - Uverse
$2,346.23 for 2011 - Uverse
$1,923.59 for 2010 - DISH
$1,985.78 for 2009 - DISH
$2,128.95 for 2008 - DISH

---------------------------------------------
Wallingford Water and Sewer (never kept cubic foot totals; wish I did now)

$839.98 for 2015

$669.60 for 2014

$851.14 for 2013
$908.04 for 2012
$659.58 for 2011
$593.58 for 2010
$309.42 for 2009
$471.46 for 2008

---------------------------------------------

Groceries (out of diapers and into more food over the year; barely noticed the difference until 2012).$8,145.51 for 2015

$7,672.78 for 2014

$7,707.61 for 2013

$9,095.93 for 2012
$7,078.67 for 2011
$6,329.67 for 2010
$7,569.30 for 2009
$6,307.34 for 2008