Wallingford tax increases spark comparisons on services and mill rates

The Cheshire Town Council meeting held on April 4, 2025, focused on discussions surrounding the town's budget and property tax evaluations. The meeting began with a presentation on the impact of recent property evaluations, particularly the '24 rebound values, which are being incorporated into the current budget year.

The speaker highlighted that Cheshire is currently classified as a '23 town, indicating that it has recently undergone a property evaluation. This evaluation, which last occurred in 2018, has resulted in a clustering of comparable towns with higher mill rates due to the absorption of new property values over the past few years.

A comparison was made with Wallingford, which is also undergoing a revaluation. Wallingford's current mill rate is just under 31, but discussions suggest they may reduce it to around 24 or 25. However, concerns were raised about potential tax increases despite this reduction, echoing similar experiences from the previous year in Cheshire.

The speaker emphasized the quality of services in Cheshire, particularly in trash collection, noting that Wallingford does not provide this service, which incurs additional costs for residents. The meeting concluded with a recognition of the differences in service offerings between the two towns, underscoring Cheshire's commitment to maintaining high-quality municipal services.

Overall, the meeting provided insights into the financial implications of property evaluations and the ongoing efforts to balance budgetary needs with community services. Further discussions and decisions regarding the budget are expected in upcoming meetings.