Mayor Vetoes Budget Approved By Wallingford Town Council

WALLINGFORD, CT — For the third year in a row, Wallingford Mayor William Dickinson Jr. has vetoed the budget adopted by the Town Council.

However, unlike the last two years, it doesn’t look like the council will have the votes to override the veto.

The Town Council recently approved a budget, by a 6-3 vote, that would decrease the tax rate by increasing the use of the town's reserve funds by $1.5 million and using federal pandemic relief funds for projects, according to the Record-Journal.

Republicans Vincent Cervoni, Thomas Laffin and Autumn Allinson voted against the budget.

Dickinson’s original budget would increase property taxes by 0.52 mills, representing a $99 tax increase for a home assessed at $190,278, according to the Record-Journal. The council approved budget would decrease property taxes by 0.13 mills, a $25 reduction for the same home.

Dickinson notified council members this week that he was vetoing the budget.

“While I appreciate the general intention of the Town Council to reduce property taxes, I am very concerned that the significant increase in the use of reserves to financially support the increase in spending will result in long term fiscal harm,” Dickinson wrote in a letter to council members.

Dickinson said the adopted 2022-23 budget requires $9.3 million from audited reserves and American Rescue Act money to pay for spending. The proposed budget recommended $6.985 million from audited reserves and ARPA for a difference of around $2.3 million, according to Dickinson.

“It is important for us to reduce our 2021-2022 reliance on reserves ($7.9 million) as advised by the Comptroller,” Dickinson wrote. “In addition, the multi-year interception of the Electric Division contribution to the Capital and Non Recurring Fund and appropriation of said funding for general governmental operational spending is a matter of concern. Reduction in the amount of money dedicated for capital multi-year projects will ultimately jeopardize the effective use of the Fund’s resources for community improvements.”

Two years ago, Dickinson vetoed the council's budget that kept the tax rate flat at 29.19 mills. Dickinson's proposed budget called for a 1.06-percent tax increase.

The council then voted 7-2 to override Dickinson's veto.

Last year, the council voted to override Dickinson’s veto with Republican Councilor Craig Fishbein changing positions and supporting the budget he initially voted against.

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