Budget Changes Could Lower Tax Rate In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — The Town Council approved several budget changes this week that would decrease the tax rate by increasing the use of the town’s reserve funds and using around $1 million in federal pandemic relief funds for projects, according to the Record-Journal.

The Record-Journal reports the council, in a 6-3 vote, increased the use of reserve funds by $1.5 million to $7.9 million. Mayor William Dickinson Jr. had reduced the amount to $6.4 million in his proposed budget last month.

If the council’s current budget is adopted, there is one more budget workshop next week, the mill rate would be reduced by 0.13 mills to 28.89 – representing a savings of around $25 for the average household, according to the Record-Journal.

Dickinson’s proposed budget would increase the mill rate by 0.52 mills to 29.04.

Last year, in a 6-3 vote, the Town Council increased the spending from the reserves from Dickinson's proposed $6.4 million to $7.9 million to reduce the mill rate.

Dickinson vetoed the council's budget and, for the second year in a row, the council overturned Dickinson's veto to restore its budget.

Read more about the council’s budget changes at the Record-Journal here.