Mayor Cervoni addressed his proposed budget that "caught some people by surprise" heading into the first public hearing on the spending plan
Vincent Salzo, Patch Staff
|Updated Thu, Apr 10, 2025 at 12:05 pm ET
WALLINGFORD, CT — In a message to residents and taxpayers, Wallingford Mayor Vincent Cervoni said the town is at a “crossroads” and needs “some significant upgrades” while trying to keep costs down.
Cervoni posted the message to Facebook on Thursday morning regarding his budget proposal that he acknowledged “caught some people by surprise, and has already led to some valuable discussions with lots more to follow.”
Last week, Cervoni submitted a budget proposal for 2025-26 that included a 19.18 percent tax increase for the average homeowner.
Cervoni’s proposal reduces the tax rate by 5.82 mills, but the average homeowner would pay more than $1,100 in taxes over the previous year following revaluation.
Cervoni said Thursday that his submission is the “first step in the process of drafting, discussing and debating, and ultimately finalizing our next budget.”
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Read Cervoni’s full post below:
Dear Wallingford Residents and Taxpayers.
As most of us are now well aware, the issue of the 2025-26 town budget has become a significant topic of discussion over the last week. On April 1, I submitted a proposed budget to the Town Council that caught some people by surprise, and has already led to some valuable discussions with lots more to follow.
My submission is the first step in the process of drafting, discussing and debating, and ultimately finalizing our next budget. There are many steps to go, and many voices to be heard. I look forward to that entire process, because it is essential to a well-functioning town and municipal government. Prior to the first public hearing on April 10, I wanted to share some additional thoughts that went into the construction of this budget draft.
Wallingford is at a crossroads. We have enjoyed comparatively low taxes for a very long time when contrasted to many surrounding communities. My goal is to continue that reality.
However, our town is also in need of some significant upgrades: to our roads and sidewalks, our technological capabilities, our schools, and many elements of our infrastructure. We have significant needs today, and over the next several years. Many of you have made it clear that you want more.
I hope it is obvious to all of us that maintaining very low taxes AND making major capital investments don’t always go hand-in-hand. Choices must be made. My primary objective in this first draft was to submit a budget that did not contain any reductions in essential town personnel, nor any reduction in services. In fact, by maintaining full staffing, and operating budgets, this budget in many ways represents the opportunity for additional or expanded services that our taxpayers have been asking for.
The simple fact is that we have many fixed costs built into our town financial structure, costs that are non-negotiable. In addition, the cost of doing business continues to go up, for example with contractual wage increases, and the employee healthcare plan. We all feel that pressure.
My goal with this proposed budget was to present a budget that will lead to valuable discussions with our Town Council, and with you. We have choices to make over the next several weeks, and years. We will have to choose which services we want to maintain and/or expand; which social services we provide; which civic organizations get town support; what investments we make in our school system; how we can best support our first responders; and, ultimately, what investments we are willing to make.
As always, the Town Councilors play a central role in that discussion. I look forward to productive discussions with all of them. I also look forward to hearing directly from you.
The Town Council is holding multiple workshops on the various parts of the budget, on April 10, 15 and 16, all starting at 6:30pm at Town Hall.
Sincerely,
Vinny Cervoni
Mayor of Wallingford
See also the following budget Information from Wallingford Comptroller Tim Sena: