West Haven public hearing on FY26 budget draws mixed reaction over taxes, pay increases and revaluation

The West Haven City Council heard more than a dozen public comments on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at a public hearing that focused on property tax impacts, department salary increases and the effects of a recent state-mandated property revaluation.

John Mistall, a West Shore resident, told the council he and his wife live on Social Security and worried they may not be able to afford rising costs. "There is concern, somebody like me and my wife, we live on Social Security," Mistall said, and he cited a number of line-item increases in the proposed budget — for example, what he described as an 11% rise in expenses tied to the city council, mayor's office and labor relations and a $400,000 (44%) increase in Public Works Administration — and asked whether those increases could be cut.

Other speakers split along similar lines. Paige Weinstein of 20 Platte Avenue said a 2.6% budget increase "is a reasonable and responsible approach" to address deferred maintenance and wage issues, and she pointed to West Haven's A-minus long-term credit rating from S&P Global as support for the administration's financial management. By contrast, letters read into the record and in-person speakers including Robert Woodcock and an emailed statement from Catherine Blakesley criticized proposed raises and questioned the format of the budget presentation and large salary changes for certain positions.

The hearing produced a series of specific concerns residents asked the council to address: how particular raises were justified, whether some positions or pay increases were recommended by the mayor’s office without departmental requests, the timing and local effect of the state revaluation enacted under Public Act 22.74, and whether seniors and veterans who live on fixed incomes were being adequately protected from tax increases.

Council leadership outlined next steps at the meeting's close: the finance committee and council will begin departmental line-by-line deliberations on April 8, with a charter requirement that changes to the budget need a two-thirds vote of the council and final action occurs on or before the first Thursday in May.

The public hearing included multiple written letters submitted for the record that both urged additional spending restraint and praised the administration's efforts to stabilize city finances. One letter noted the mayor's administration had recovered previously stolen pandemic relief funds, while another letter called for stronger energy benchmarking and accountability to reduce long-term costs.

The council meeting concluded after the public hearing; a motion to adjourn carried and the council scheduled the start of budget deliberations.