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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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