Middletown council passes series of resolutions on libraries, education aid and state tax policy

During its meeting the Middletown Town Council passed several resolutions addressing state funding and tax policy.

The council approved a resolution urging the state to fully fund library aid at the statutory 25% level, noting the governor's proposed FY27 budget funds libraries at 24.1% and that the shortfall equates to roughly $7,000 for the town.

The council also passed a resolution the town administrator will promote statewide that asks the General Assembly to add $15 million to the education appropriation to cover high-cost special education, private-school transportation mandates and to establish a categorical reimbursement for transportation of homeless students. Administration estimated the town would receive roughly $225,747 in additional aid if the state adopted the amendment.

Councilors moved and passed a resolution opposing a proposed statewide non-owner-occupied property tax (the so-called "Taylor Swift" tax), arguing it would increase tax burdens on local residents and erode municipal authority to manage property tax policy. Speakers at the meeting expressed concern the measure would disproportionately affect coastal towns and complicate local revenue planning.

Finally, the council voted to urge full funding of the school housing aid program to prevent capital investments in education infrastructure from impairing municipal finances.

Council presidents and administration staff framed these resolutions as advocacy tools to press the governor and legislature for more favorable funding decisions and to protect local fiscal stability; all motions passed on voice votes during the meeting.