East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. Decides His Political Future

Following the recent announcement of a third straight budget surplus since 2011 and on the heels of recommending the largest tax decrease in a non-revaluation year since 1989, Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. announced today, via a press release from his campaign, that he has filed his official campaign paperwork and will be seeking re-election for an 8th term as Mayor of East Haven.

Here is the rest of Maturo’s campaign press release:

Maturo explained, “For 14 of the last 18 years, I’ve enjoyed the privilege of leading our great community. During my tenure, we’ve stabilized and reduced taxes, balanced fourteen straight budgets, reduced our debt to historically low levels, and completed a host of public safety and infrastructure upgrades across Town. I am seeking re-election because I know my team and I have the experience and the vision to continue to keep our community moving forward on the right track.”

In his announcement, Maturo emphasized the Town’s dramatic turnaround since his return to office in November of 2011.

Maturo continued, “Upon resuming office in 2011, we inherited a divided Town, mired in controversy over its Police Department and plagued by three straight budget deficits which had reduced the Town’s rainy day fund to a negative $5.1 million dollar deficit. As a result of those deficits, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s twice dropped the Town’s credit rating. Perhaps most troubling, just prior to my resuming office, the previous administration instituted a 17% tax increase – the largest effective tax increase in the Town’s modern history.

In just three short years, we’ve turned that $5.1 million dollar deficit into a $2.5 million dollar surplus by balancing three straight budgets. At the same time, we’ve reduced our debt by over $10.4 million dollars, received an upgrade in our credit rating from Standard and Poor’s, and instituted reforms within our Police Department that have put it on the forefront of the policing community.”

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Maturo explained, “Since resuming office, my goals have been to restore fiscal responsibility in Town Hall and to promote the continued growth and prosperity of our community. We’ve made tremendous strides and it without hesitation that I say that this entire administration is a team that the residents can both count on and be proud of.”

While emphasizing his team’s accomplishments, Maturo also noted that he has continued to keep East Haven an affordable community to live and raise a family.

Maturo noted, “While we’ve continued to increase funding to vital Town departments including education, police, and fire services, I’ve also implemented a plan to reduce taxes. In the upcoming budget, I am recommending a half-mill tax decrease, which marks the largest tax decrease in a non-revaluation year since 1989.”

Maturo’s announcement also highlighted his success stimulating economic development over the past two decades.

Maturo explained, “In my first 10 years in office, we grew our industrial park to shift the tax burden off of residents and brought in a host of businesses including Home Depot, Carmax, and many other small businesses. Since 2011, we’ve welcomed Hobby Lobby, Shoprite, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and countless other businesses to Town. Thanks to aggressive recruitment and a stable tax rate, businesses are flocking to make East Haven their home.”

While proudly announcing his candidacy, Maturo also noted the various public safety projects he has completed in his time as Mayor.

Maturo continued, “As a 19-year career firefighter, public safety has always been important to me. Under my watch, we’ve instituted 24/7 paramedic service, which started saving lives from the day it was implemented. This past year, we relocated and renovated our 911 Dispatch Center and equipped it with state-of-the-art technology to better respond to emergencies. We also completed the signalization project at the intersection of Short Beach Road and Mansfield Grove Road. At present, we are pursuing grants and holding public hearings to begin projects to construct bike paths and sidewalks on North High Street and to raise Coe Avenue to improve travel and reduce flooding. Most recently, we also secured grant funding to re-start the third phase of Downtown Revitalization on Main Street.”

While emphasizing the Town’s improved financial and capital positions, Maturo noted that he intends to undertake additional infrastructure upgrades in the coming year.

Maturo explained, “Since we have reduced our long-term debt to historically low levels, we are now in a position to begin a campaign of fiscally responsible, but aggressive infrastructure improvements across Town. We are presently in the process of identifying fields and buildings in need of updates. In fact, in conjunction with the East Haven Rotary and the Foxon Recreation League, we are beginning an extensive renovation of the Foxon Recreation Center, beginning with a new roof this spring.”

Maturo concluded, “For 14 of the last 18 years, it has been an honor to serve the residents of this great community. We’ve kept taxes low, reduced our debt, and completed critical public safety upgrades. As a result, East Haven continues to be an affordable, safe community to live and raise a family. If re-elected, I promise to continue working hard to keep East Haven moving forward on the right track.”

For more information, visit www.maturo2015.com or contact the Campaign via e-mail at maturo2015@gmail.com.

Correction: This press release was disseminated by Maturo’s campaign, and not his office.