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Survey shows Trumbull residents split on $27—$30 million senior/community center; cost and taxes top concerns
Summary
A Siena Research Institute survey of 654 Trumbull residents found the town divided over building a new senior or community center; cost and tax concerns were the most common barriers, and open-ended comments were unusually frequent, the presenter told the Town Council.
Meghann Crawford of ReconMR/Siena Research Institute told the Trumbull Town Council on June 17 that a public-opinion survey of 654 adult residents conducted May 4—May 8, 2026, shows the town divided over a proposed senior or community center and the $27—$30 million price tag. Crawford said the sample yields a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points, so close differences should be interpreted with caution.
The survey found strong local engagement: about 75% of respondents said they follow town issues closely. Crawford said a plurality prefers a community center serving people of all ages over a facility for seniors only, and that support is higher among those who have visited the existing senior center. On the cost question, the presenter reported roughly 38% in favor of spending $27—$30 million and about 42% opposed, with responses varying by prior referendum vote and other subgroups.
Crawford said residents strongly supported core amenities such as senior program space, fitness areas and youth activity space, while higher-cost items like an indoor pool were more divisive. She also emphasized an unusually high rate of open-ended responses (about 56%), with written comments split between support for a multiuse community center and opposition focused on taxes and cost. "How much money did you waste on this survey? The community said no. Listen to the voters," one written comment included in the survey read.
The presenter explained the survey process and completion rates, saying 834 people passed screening and 654 completed the full instrument; 585 completed on cell phones and 69 on landlines. She also noted drop-offs after early questions and that some respondents raised concerns about question wording.
During public comment at the meeting, resident Sherry Boyd questioned the survey's value and transparency, saying it reached only about 2% of the town and urging that comments be published: "The referendum didn't pass, the majority of the town said no... those comments should be made available to the public for review," she said. Another resident, Nate Gross, said the survey showed "promising results" for a senior/community center but reiterated worries about cost and where a facility would be built and added that the current senior center was "not viable anymore."
The Chair said the council would receive the open-ended responses and asked that the presentation be forwarded for posting on the town website; the clerk will accept further questions by email. Council member Kelly Mallozzi moved to adjourn; Council member William Mecca seconded and the council adjourned by unanimous consent at 7:58 p.m.
What happens next: The Chair reminded members of committee meetings on July 8 and the full council meeting on July 13, and the council will have the Siena report and accompanying comments available on the town website for further review.
