VIDEO – Wallingford Town Council Meeting October 22, 2013

PART ONE

PART TWO

DEEP Notice of violation document issued November 7, 2013

Click on the image below to access the entire Notice of Violation

Secretary Merrill Releases Turnout Figures from 2013 Municipal Elections

Denise Merrill

Secretary of the State

Connecticut

For Immediate Release:

November 13, 2013  

- News Release -

Secretary Merrill Releases Turnout Figures from 2013 Municipal Elections

Statewide Voter Turnout Figure 31.43%; Bridgewater Reported Highest Turnout at 77.39%, Hartford Lowest at 5.21%

Hartford: Secretary of the State Denise Merrill today released voter turnout numbers from the 2013 Municipal Elections which showed that overall, the statewide voter turnout among registered voters in Connecticut was 31.43%.  The town with the highest voter turnout for the municipal offices was Bridgewater, where 77.39% of registered voters cast ballots.  The municipality with the lowest voter turnout was Hartford, where only 5.21% of registered voters cast ballots.  A complete listing of turnout among towns that held elections on November 5, 2013 follows at the end of this news release. 

“Municipal elections usually have lower turnout figures than state or Presidential elections, even though the impact of the decisions made by those elected to local government is huge in the community,” said Secretary Merrill, Connecticut’s chief elections official.  “Many races were decided by just a handful of votes, and we had a number of recounts as a result, which shows once again how important it is to do your civic duty and cast a ballot.  I also want to praise our local election officials for accommodating all of the new voters in Connecticut who used their new right to register and vote on Election Day.  From everything we are hearing Election Day registration went very smoothly in 2013, and we look forward to even more voters being welcomed into the democratic process next year.”

The following reflects numbers reported to the Secretary of the State’s Office.  The column labeled (AB) represents the number of Absentee Ballots counted on Election Day.  The column labeled (EDR) represents the number of Election Day Registration ballots counted.

 

Wallingford

25256

11163

44.20%

TOWN	Total Names on Registry List	Total Names Checked as Voting	Turnout Percentage	AB	EDR
Bridgewater	1331	1030	77.39%
Warren	1003	573	57.13%	21	11
Sharon	1740	983	56.49%	116
Cornwall	985	532	54.01%
Sprague	1732	922	53.23%		12
New Hartford	4573	2311	50.54%		30
East Haven	15176	7658	50.46%
Hampton	1193	596	49.96%
Harwinton	4059	2015	49.64%
Sherman	2600	1275	49.04%	126	9
Orange	10330	5014	48.54%	241	40
Wolcott	11233	5429	48.33%	254	35
Goshen	2172	1048	48.25%
Beacon Falls	3858	1861	48.24%
Killingworth	4266	2054	48.15%
Middlefield	3213	1545	48.09%		5
Derby	6555	3090	47.14%		11
Westport	16994	7961	46.85%		34
Morris	1697	786	46.32%		4
Prospect	6220	2872	46.17%
Bozrah	1709	786	45.99%		7
Woodbury	6770	3098	45.76%
Bolton	3336	1523	45.65%		5
Easton	5176	2351	45.42%
Cheshire	18706	8375	44.77%	367
Stafford	7543	3374	44.73%	169	20
Pomfret	2520	1123	44.56%		4
Roxbury	1695	750	44.25%
Wallingford	25256	11163	44.20%		43
Bethlehem	2782	1228	44.14%		6
West Haven	29147	12813	43.96%
Haddam	5860	2565	43.77%		9
Brookfield	9769	4274	43.75%	185	15
Ansonia	9790	4246	43.37%
Canterbury	3376	1451	42.98%
Clinton	9213	3937	42.73%
Branford	18140	7701	42.45%		23
Westbrook	4201	1779	42.35%	72	8
North Stonington	3778	1584	41.93%
Thomaston	4818	2008	41.68%	67	9
Salisbury	2940	1197	40.71%		15
Trumbull	24401	9852	40.38%
Guilford	14804	5949	40.19%		25
Monroe	11778	4716	40.04%		15
East Granby	3477	1384	39.80%
Simsbury	16096	6403	39.78%
Granby	7106	2805	39.47%		8
Stonington	12459	4916	39.46%
Washington	2403	948	39.45%	50	4
Chaplin	1355	525	38.75%		2
Redding	6987	2694	38.56%
New Britain	25211	9568	37.95%		164
Norwalk	44407	16781	37.79%		81
East Hampton	8426	3181	37.75%	95	20
Bethel	24181	9124	37.73%	156
Sterling	2150	811	37.72%
Oxford	8552	3225	37.71%		10
Greenwich	32152	11934	37.12%		40
Suffield	8390	3110	37.07%		15
Winchester	6837	2521	36.87%	76	16
Southbury	13773	5078	36.87%
Salem	2773	1022	36.86%
Shelton	23821	8686	36.46%
Essex	4620	1675	36.26%
Lebanon	4666	1689	36.20%	46	6
Windsor Locks	7387	2666	36.09%
Lisbon	2608	938	35.97%		5
Milford	33275	11927	35.84%
Somers	6384	2273	35.60%	72	11
Stamford	60604	21441	35.38%		61
Rocky Hill	11563	4030	34.85%
Hamden	33475	11649	34.80%
Newington	17329	6030	34.80%		24
Putnam	5159	1785	34.60%
Torrington	18985	6531	34.40%		30
Canaan	759	260	34.26%	8	3
Plymouth	7494	2567	34.25%
Avon	11939	4089	34.25%		22
Thompson	5321	1817	34.15%		8
Columbia	3562	1216	34.14%
Colchester	10105	3448	34.12%		10
Southington	25824	8749	33.88%		41
Willington	3574	1192	33.35%		5
Franklin	1212	404	33.33%
Bristol	33255	11021	33.14%
Middletown	22053	7303	33.12%
Stratford	31877	10556	33.11%		40
Danbury	34286	11304	32.97%		36
Vernon	15746	5149	32.70%
Cromwell	9304	3042	32.70%		21
Berlin	12891	4214	32.69%
New Fairfield	9569	3090	32.29%
Tolland	9409	3037	32.28%	62	5
South Windsor	15780	5091	32.26%
North Haven	15342	4918	32.06%		10
Weston	6674	2134	31.97%	112	22
Madison	13347	4262	31.93%
Griswold	6676	2123	31.80%
Burlington	6117	1941	31.73%		5
Deep River	3143	994	31.63%	36	4
North Branford	8925	2781	31.16%
Brooklyn	4754	1464	30.80%
Kent	1935	584	30.18%	27
Farmington	17246	5204	30.18%		22
Darien	12249	3659	29.87%
East Haddam	5767	1722	29.86%	48	5
Wethersfield	17282	5155	29.83%		12
Seymour	9518	2825	29.68%
Enfield	21698	6426	29.62%
Watertown	14434	4272	29.60%		37
Eastford	1176	347	29.51%
Fairfield	36839	10775	29.25%
New Haven	72278	21120	29.22%		202
Marlborough	4159	1204	28.95%		3
East Lyme	12047	3457	28.70%
Barkhamsted	2646	747	28.23%
Naugatuck	17507	4903	28.01%		35
Preston	3239	907	28.00%
Montville	9792	2723	27.81%
West Hartford	38826	10727	27.63%
Manchester	28876	7889	27.32%
Coventry	7620	2069	27.15%
Windsor	20264	5490	27.09%	268	20
Portland	5932	1593	26.85%
Meriden	29416	7887	26.81%
Groton	19082	5106	26.76%
Mansfield	11269	3010	26.71%
New Canaan	13132	3481	26.51%
Plainville	10599	2795	26.37%
Norfolk	1131	297	26.26%	15
Old Lyme	6068	1591	26.22%		4
Newtown	17346	4438	25.59%
Ellington	9594	2415	25.17%
East Windsor	3827	959	25.06%	14	2
Litchfield	6405	1567	24.47%		2
Ledyard	9006	2199	24.42%		12
Old Saybrook	7448	1818	24.41%		5
Bloomfield	12772	3094	24.22%
Windham	10981	2653	24.16%
Glastonbury	21803	5266	24.15%
Ridgefield	16681	4020	24.10%		11
Ashford	2808	671	23.90%
Durham	5074	1187	23.39%	46	3
New Milford	18370	4290	23.35%	61
Norwich	19796	4573	23.10%		23
Waterbury	56470	12732	22.55%		39
North Canaan	1968	440	22.36%	15	5
Hartland	1534	339	22.10%		1
Middlebury	5195	1124	21.64%		3
Hebron	6426	1388	21.60%	30
Waterford	12810	2712	21.17%		9
New London	14245	2986	20.96%
Voluntown	1643	320	19.48%
Canton	6973	1349	19.35%	42	3
Colebrook	1079	206	19.09%
Woodstock	4983	927	18.60%
East Hartford	26920	4894	18.18%
Killingly	9222	1636	17.74%
Lyme	1782	276	15.49%		1
Scotland	1107	171	15.45%
Chester	2444	346	14.16%		1
Plainfield	8652	1070	12.37%
Bridgeport	70322	8161	11.61%
Wilton	11463	1320	11.52%		6
Hartford	47031	2449	5.21%
Total Statewide Turnout	2020194	634875	31.43%

Wallingford Voter registration / special registration session

WALLINGFORD — The Wallingford registrars of voters will have a special registration session from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, in the registrars office, Wallingford Town Hall, Room 211. Voters are reminded that only the town clerk can provide applications for absentee ballots, which must be returned to the town clerk.

If you're not registered at all Here's a link to the voter registration form - you can mail or bring in to the office:

http://www.town.wallingford.ct.us/images/customer-files/CT_Voter_Registration_Form.pdf

It must be postmarked by Oct 22. Otherwise you can come into the office in-person by Oct 29th.

TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM PART ONE - Wallingford Candidates forum – Election 2013

WALLINGFORD — The Wallingford Community Women’s Club held the 2013 candidates forum on Tuesday, Oct. 15 in the Town Council Chambers of the Wallingford Town Hall.

Reporters from local newspapers, in addition to students from Sheehan High School, addressed questions to the candidates.

This session was the Town Council Candidate forum PART ONE

TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM PART TWO - Wallingford Candidates forum – Election 2013

WALLINGFORD — The Wallingford Community Women’s Club held the 2013 candidates forum on Tuesday, Oct. 15 in the Town Council Chambers of the Wallingford Town Hall.

Reporters from local newspapers, in addition to students from Sheehan High School, addressed questions to the candidates.

This session was the Town Council Candidate forum PART TWO

Wallingford Candidates forum – Election 2013

WALLINGFORD — The Wallingford Community Women’s Club announces the upcoming 2013 candidates forum on Tuesday, Oct. 15, and Thursday, Oct. 17, in the Town Council Chambers of the Wallingford Town Hall.

Reporters from local newspapers, in addition to students from Sheehan High School, will address questions to the candidates. The Tuesday sessions, at 7 and 8 p.m., are for the 13 candidates for the Town Council. At 9 p.m. the two mayoral candidates will be questioned. Thursday’s sessions, at 7 and 8 p.m., are for the 12 candidates for the Board of Education.

The sessions will be taped and available for viewing shortly afterward on government access channel 20. The public is welcome to attend all sessions.

Absentee Ballot Application English and Spanish

Application for Absentee Ballot: This application for absentee ballot may be downloaded by an individual for: (1) the individual's own use; (2) the use of a member of the individual's immediate family; or (3) the use of a designee of the applicant. Any person who will distribute five (5) or more absentee ballot applications to persons other than the individual's immediate family must register with and obtain forms from the Town Clerk of the municipality where such forms will be distributed before distributing such forms. For more detailed information please review the Absentee Ballot Fact Sheet and Absentee Ballot Application Process document.

 

English:

• English Language Application for Absentee Ballot Form
• English Language Application Form for Referendum Only
• English Language Emergency Application for Absentee Ballot

 

Spanish:

• Spanish Language Application for Absentee Ballot Form
• Spanish Language Application Form for Referendum Only
• Spanish Language Emergency Application for Absentee Ballot

Wallingford Community Women Candidate Forum for the 2013 election

The Wallingford Community Women will be sponsoring the Candidate Forum for the 2013 election on Tuesday October 15 and Thursday October 17 in the Town Council chambers at Wallingford Town Hall

TUESDAY FROM 7-8 (first session) / 8-9 (second session) TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATES

TUESDAY FROM 9-10 - MAYORAL CANDIDATES

THURSDAY 7-8 (first session) / 8-9 (second session) BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES

The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

I am planning to get the recordings of the forum and post them here on the blog as soon as they are available.

Councilors spar over meeting agenda

The Wednesday October 9, 2013 issue of the Record Journal carried a story titled Councilors spar over meeting agenda.

The article basically outlines the current situation where Town Councilor Nick Economopoulos was denied the opportunity to place an item on the agenda for Tuesday’s Town Council meeting.

The Chairman of the Town Council Robert Parisi and the Vice Chair Vincent Cervoni indicated they would not add the item to the agenda – their reasoning was that nothing new was to be added to the discussion.

If you look at the Town Council rules of procedure at the top of the article the reasons available to decline an item “The Council Chairman can grant exceptions to this rule, depending on the length of a given Town Council agenda.” I read this as a compound reason – Length is the reason for the exception.

Tuesday’s meeting had a normal amount of items and we were wrapped up around 9PM; we’ve had meetings that have gone longer with less items and had other meetings with more items in general.

This goes back to the need for a more transparent local Government. More on that soon.

I will also follow up more on item 4 above as well:

”Public input on individual agenda items will be received during the discussion of the specific item, after members of the Council have had an opportunity to review and discuss the item. Individuals wishing to speak to individual agenda items will be required to address their questions or comments to the Council Chairman and limit his/ her speaking time to a total of three minutes.”

This rule has been specifically and intentionally ignored on a number of occasions and the public was not allowed to speak.

Wallingford turnout for local elections since 2001; updated for 2013 results

2001
Town of Wallingford total number of names on official check list: 25,635    
Town of Wallingford total number of names checked as having voted: 11,036
Town of Wallingford turnout percentage: 43.1%

2003
Town of Wallingford total number of names on official check list: 24,825    
Town of Wallingford total number of names checked as having voted: 12,389
Town of Wallingford turnout percentage: 49.9%

2005
Town of Wallingford total number of names on official check list: 26,718    
Town of Wallingford total number of names checked as having voted: 12,719
Town of Wallingford turnout percentage: 47.6%

2007
Town of Wallingford total number of names on official check list: 25,461    
Town of Wallingford total number of names checked as having voted: 11,624
Town of Wallingford turnout percentage: 45.7%

2009
Town of Wallingford total number of names on official check list: 24,870    
Town of Wallingford total number of names checked as having voted: 8,850
Town of Wallingford turnout percentage: 35.6%

2011  
Town of Wallingford total number of names on official check list: 24,731    
Town of Wallingford total number of names checked as having voted: 9,783
Town of Wallingford turnout percentage: 39.5%

2013  
Town of Wallingford total number of names on official check list: 25,256    
Town of Wallingford total number of names checked as having voted: 11,163
Town of Wallingford turnout percentage: 44.2%

Sign, sign everywhere a sign; PZC meeting discussing signs INSIDE store windows

From the conversation on Facebook I started where one person’s opinion / argument attempted to clear up a misconception that signs inside of stores were not going to be discussed, that “The long and the short of it is that there is nothing on the horizon for the P&Z to consider mandating town-wide regulation of interior signage”…. I am sitting in the meeting two weeks after the discussion thread, where they are discussing just that.

By the way dear readers, Craig was not here this evening.

ELECT LARRY RUSSO FUNDRAISER - Monday, September 9th

Frank and Sherry Cotrona will be hosting it at their home at 5 Laurelwood Drive

FROM LARRY: "I am having my fundraiser on Monday, September 9th. Frank and Sherry Cotrona will be hosting it at their home at 5 Laurelwood Drive here in Wallingford. It will be from 5pm to 8pm, We will be having brick oven pizza, drinks, coffee and dessert. Your support is greatly appreciated. For tickets please contact me via email or phone."

I am also looking for lawn sign locations. If anyone is willing to display a sign on their lawn please contact me so I can make the necessary arrangements.

I would like to thank you in advance for your support and well wishes.

Larry Russo
email - larryrusso4council@gmail.com

More explanation on Wallingford taxes: myth and reality – as offered by one Republican in a Facebook discussion

This is an independent conversation from my prior blog post Wallingford Taxes – MYTH and REALITY (which is what generated Steve Knight’s article in the Record Journal) but as far as I am concerned it only further proves my point

 

Town explores tougher zoning rules

I am interested in what people's thoughts are on this subject - let's discuss. Is the town going too far to suggest limiting what someone can hang for a sign INSIDE their business space (e.g. inside the windows)?

Town explores tougher zoning rules is the Record Journal article.

The discussion is ongoing at the Jason Zandri for Mayor of Wallingford group over on Facebook (if you have an account there). Otherwise feel free to post your thoughts to me here or privately via email. 

Wooding Caplan Lot work needs OK from PZC (permit for the work was never approved)

Special meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday to be held in Town Hall at 7PM; the commission will discuss the Incentive Housing Zone as well as the work going on with respect to the Wooding Caplan Lot work as a needed permit for the work was apparently never pulled.

Here is the story as published in the Record Journal regarding the same.

Standing still – Letter to the editor of the Record Journal Sunday August 4, 2013

This letter was written by Vincent Avallone of Wallingford and published in the Record Journal on Sunday August 4, 2013 in the Readers’ Opinions section of the paper.

 

Editor: In response to Jim Seichter’s letter (R-J, 7-26), I’m sure Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman would have enjoyed meeting with the mayor if she had only been invited.

It amazes me how the thinking of the local Republican Party is so in sync with the state and national Party in that they’re great at pointing out problems, with no solutions of course, but fail to acknowledge those most responsible for causing the problems in the first place.

Do the names John Rowland, Jodi Rell and George Bush ring a bell? When Mr. Dickinson became mayor in the 80’s, he wasn’t burdened with a financial and economic crisis, electric rates were already low, much lower than they are today, and the bond rating was just fine.

Not quite the same scenario when Governor Malloy and Lt. Governor Wyman took office. It’s unfortunate that Seichter didn’t attend Jason Zandri’s fundraiser and listen to the Democratic Party’s endorsed mayoral candidate’s address to the crowd. He was excited, energetic and full of ideas you’ll learn about as the campaign progresses and he delivered a message of moving Wallingford forward and making it a better place to live, unlike the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy of the mayor.

The Republicans feel that Wallingford is an oasis and they’ll continue “doing things how they always have been done.” The mayor is so complacent that instead of addressing issues that face the town, he decided to sing a song when he was recently endorsed by his Party. Jason Zandri understands that if Wallingford isn’t moving forward, it’s moving backwards as other towns streak by us utilizing modern methods of achieving greater efficiency at a reduced cost. There’s much work to be done, as Seichter states, but it won’t get done standing still.

Vincent Avallone, Wallingford

WALLINGFORD PROPERTY TAX DEFERRAL FOR THE ELDERLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED – WHY IT DOESN’T GO FAR ENOUGH

There is really little need for me to include much additional narrative into the facts below (but I do offer some); Wallingford needs to review our current offering and then consider some changes in this program to make it a better benefit for Wallingford’s elderly and disabled.

There is no reason we cannot do more. I am good with anyone that wants to move to another state to be closer to family or to spend more time in warmer weather, but to have someone say “I have to move away from family and the town that I grew up in or have called home since [DATE] because I can no longer afford the taxes in Wallingford and Connecticut” is unfathomable.

We all know that the impact is dual (local and state); we need to address what we can locally and then lobby the state on behalf of our citizens as much as we can.

Here is the data for Wallingford:

Wallingford’s median household income in 2009: $71,117 (it was $57,308 in 2000)

Wallingford’s per capita income in 2009: $32,679 (this means “each individual person”)

Estimated median house or condo value in 2009: $295,349 (it was $157,700 in 2000)

Wallingford’s property tax deferral income guidelines for 2010 – Married $49,500 – Single $42,300; in order to reach Wallingford’s household income, this benefit would need to increase 43.5% as it otherwise falls short.

 

Here is the data for Guilford:

Guilford’s median household income in 2009: $95,359 (it was $76,843 in 2000)

Guilford’s per capita income in 2009: $46,803 (this means “each individual person”)

Estimated median house or condo value in 2009: $431,692 (it was $230,500 in 2000)

Guilford’s property tax deferral income guidelines (based on total years of residency) 20+ years – Married $95,000 – Single $79,000; “married” matches their town’s median household income.

 

Here is the data for Durham:

Durham’s median household income in 2009: $93,287 (it was $57,308 in 2000)

Durham’s per capita income in 2009: $40,442 (this means “each individual person”)

Estimated median house or condo value in 2009: $316,714 (it was $157,700 in 2000)

Durham’s property tax deferral income guidelines for 2010 (based on total years of residency) 20+years “Income not to exceed 2.0 times the maximum income levels set annually for single or married status, as applicable, by the Office of Policy and Management for State elderly/disabled tax relief programs” – those numbers (doubled, as outlined for the 2011 program year) are Married $79,000 – Single $64,600. While it does not reach their town’s median household income, it does better than Wallingford.

 

We can do better than this Wallingford for our seniors who have lived here a lot longer than “just” 20 years.

The most impactful voters are the ones that show up.

Different ages of people ask me why it seems (to them) that “the government” (and this could be federal, state or local depending on the conversation at the time) always seems to favor [THAT AGE GROUP] over theirs and the [GROUP] always seems to be an older age group.

The bottom line is – the squeaky wheels get the grease.

When you look at total number of registered voters, the older the bracket, the more they tend to be registered. At the same time too, when you look at the percentages of who turns out from those brackets, the older brackets turn out with a larger percentage as well.

The following is the information lifted from the last municipal election (2011) of a total of about 25,000 registered voters:

18-24 year olds – total registered 1,869 and of that 193 (10.5%) showed up to vote. You expect this bracket to be less in total number of voters as it contains only seven years of voters and all the others are ten but the 10.5 percentage across just those registered is very low.

25-34 year olds – total registered 3,051 and of that 456 (14.9%) showed up to vote. Nearly 50% more percentage wise on the turnout, nearly twice as many total registered and more than double the number in turnout which is all better than their counterparts in the 18 to 24 bracket but still low overall as you compare the older demographics.

35-44 year olds – total registered 3,433 and of that 913 (26.6%) showed up to vote. With nearly 3,500 registered voters, this block comes in with less than 1,000 total voters showing up to vote locally. When you consider this group (along with a portion of the prior demographic and the next) to be the main segment of the population that uses the largest portion of the municipal budget (education budget for those with children) you would hope to see higher turnout numbers.

45-54 year olds – total registered 5,167 and of that 1,995 (38.6%) showed up to vote. This group is the second largest in total number on the registration side but at just 38.6% in turnout (while better than their younger counterparts) they impact about the same as the 65 to 74 demographic but less so than the 55 to 64 group. With its sheer numbers matching, they could have more presence if they could move their turnout numbers higher.

55-64 year olds – total registered 5,211 and of that 2,350 (45.1%) showed up to vote. This group is the largest in total number on both the registration side and the turnout number. On the percentage side at 45.1% they turnout at the third highest percentage as well but because of their total numbers of registered, this group’s turnout numbers have the highest impact regarding total vote tally.

65-74 year olds – total registered 3,329 and of that 1,876 (56.3%) showed up to vote. This group is the third largest group with 3,329 registered. Their turnout percentages are very good locally at 56.3% which generated 1,876 voters at the polls. They are the second highest impacting group because of this.

75-84 year olds – total registered 1,958 and of that 1,146 (58.5%) showed up to vote. As people age onward and pass away it impacts the demographic. This group has the highest percentage of local voter turnout at 58.5% but as their total numbers dwindle their voter impact lessens. Despite the handicap, they are still a very impactful group.

85 and older – total registered 1,292 and of that 547 (42.3%) showed up to vote. At just a hair shy of 1,300 registered voters and 547 turning out, this group nearly singlehandedly outstrips the impact of the 5,000 registered voters in both the 18 to 24 and the 25 to 34 demographics combined as in both those groups only 649 people voted locally.  

It’s your town – get informed, get involved and VOTE

Wallingford Taxes – MYTH and REALITY

From the “Contrast in candidates and campaigns: Dickinson-Zandri” article as published in the Record Journal on Sunday July 28, 2013.

“I think if you compare Wallingford with the surrounding area, we’re comparable,” Dickinson said. “We provide a full range of services. I don’t believe taxes have gone up beyond what they’ve gone up in many surrounding communities.”

There’s your first myth “I don’t believe taxes have gone up beyond what they’ve gone up in many surrounding communities”.

Below is your reality.

These are all comparable homes - Bedrooms: 3/4 beds / Bathrooms: 2 baths / Single Family: ABOUT 1,350 SQ FT / Lot: ABOUT 25,000 SQ FT

 

There’s actually a second myth here - “We provide a full range of services”. North Haven’s comparable home that pays about $40.00 more a year in taxes; they have regular curbside trash removal all included in the cost of their taxes and this includes a couple of bulky pick ups during the year. Wallingford residents pay for that out of their pocket.

They also have full day Kindergarten.

Both of those added cost burdens are managed by North Haven at the cost of an additional $40.00 in taxes against this cross section of homes.

For Wallingford to offer those two additional services taxes would need to go up approximately an additional 10%.

 

For a better cross comparison of the Wallingford average let’s take homes of all shapes and sizes – the present addresses of the Town Councilors and the Mayor and the taxes as taken from the Wallingford Tax office:

 

You do not have to take my word for it – call the tax office yourself and get your own taxes from the prior revaluation (pre 2005) and then compare them with your current taxes.

Knowledge – it’s a wonderful thing.