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Resident urges council to return part of $10.5 million surplus to homeowners
Summary
A resident told the council Wallingford ended 2025 with a $10.5 million surplus and urged reimbursement of last year’s tax increase; the mayor said he awaits audit results and recommended further review before any refund decision.
Paul Shardillo of Bayberry Drive used his public comment time to press the council to consider returning municipal surplus funds to taxpayers.
"When I saw that this past year Wallingford ended 2025 with a $10.5 million surplus I felt compelled to come down here," Shardillo said, urging the council to reimburse the 2025 tax increase and use surplus funds to ease affordability pressures on working families.
Shardillo framed the request in the context of rising inflation and local tax increases following reassessments. He asked whether the mayor had reconsidered the idea since raising the matter at a prior meeting.
The mayor responded that he was awaiting the formal audit results and said the audit report would inform any decision; he described the audit as "a totally different animal" but did not say the town would withhold consideration. No council motion or vote to refund taxes occurred that night.
Councilors did not commit to a timetable for action; the issue will depend on the audit and any subsequent council discussion or agenda placement.
