Key Points:
- Modest turnout and limited public comment shaped discussion of a $151.7M town budget and multiple bonding items
- Some residents raised concerns about transparency and spending, but no motions were made to alter the budget
- Final decisions now shift to Saturday’s vote, where turnout could determine whether ballots are counted at face value
Why it Matters: Key spending decisions and tax impacts are still undecided, and voter turnout Saturday will determine whether the community’s vote truly counts or the budget passes automatically.
Despite some comments of concern about the transparency and accuracy of the Board of Selectmen budget specifically, the public in attendance at Tuesday night’s Annual Town Meeting largely expressed support for the proposed $151,701,690 town budget.
Around 100 people came out to the Clune Auditorium on May 5 to express their thoughts on the budget vote and a handful of referendum items, including nine bonding proposals, establishment of a new designated town fund for non-recurring capital items, and a first-time lease with the Friends of Ambler Farm regarding that property.
“We in Wilton have what is sometimes called a direct democracy…” Moderator Steve Hudspeth declared. “It’s a huge responsibility for all of us and the fact that you are here carrying out this responsibility is an enormous tribute to you.”
Seize the Opportunity to Vote
On Saturday, May 9, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wilton voters can still seize the opportunity to vote on these 12 separate items by ballot. Voting takes place at the Clune Center (395 Danbury Rd.).
Around 20 residents addressed the assembly at the meeting. On stage were most members of the Boards of Education, Finance and Selectmen, along with First Selectman Toni Boucher, Chief Financial Officer Dawn Savo and Town Clerk Lori Kaback.
Boucher, BOE Chair Ruth DeLuca and BOF Chair Tim Birch each shared presentations on their respective areas, including the BOS budget and proposed bonding items, the BOE budget, and the overall proposed budget and mill rate, which is proposed to increase 2.7%.
Several residents made favorable comments about Ambler Farm — both for the new lease, which would establish a more clear delineation of responsibilities between the nonprofit that has served as the steward of the town-owned property for 20 years and the Town of Wilton — and for the $1,367,749 bond being requested to do extensive renovations on the historic Yellow House at the entrance to the property.
Residents also spoke in favor of the $300,000 request for four outdoor pickleball courts, a $1,200,000 allocation to replace the artificial turf field at Lilly Field, and for the school budget at large, which represents two-thirds of the overall town budget at $100.5 million, a 3.6% increase over the current year.
Voting “No” on Budget
A few people emphasized their unhappiness with the BOS budget, however, and pledged to vote ‘No’ on the overall package for that reason. They cited ongoing issues with transparency and an absence of final audit numbers for Fiscal Year 2025 as among the reasons. Still, though they had the opportunity, no one chose to make any motions for line reductions in the BOS budget during what was a relatively fast-moving meeting.
Resident Barbara Geddis, a regular attendee at many town meetings, shared three reasons why she is “rejecting the Board of Selectmen budget because it is too high.”
“This last year we’ve had a palpable lack of transparency in our financial leadership,” she said. “It’s getting better but it’s May 2026 and we’re really nowhere.”
Geddis faulted the BOS for not coming in at the guidance recommended by the BOF of no more than a 3.6% increase, coming in instead with a 4.4% increase. She also said that no clear case has been made to support that increase.
Resident Julie Finch said that the mill rate should not be increasing and that, instead, the town should find $3.8 million in cuts in order to match with the $149 million it’s projecting in revenue next year.
“I would like you to go back and work at keeping that mill rate the same as last year … You need to cut $3.8 million … You need to have more hard choices and you need to have more transparency,” Finch said.
“Imperfect Information”
In his brief presentation, BOF Chair Birch described the particulars of the budget, including the goal of holding any tax increase under 3%. He noted that because the Grand List came in higher than was expected it’s taking some pressure off the numbers, in part allowing the BOF to put aside a recommended $500,000 in reserves beyond the 1% of the budget that the town is legally required to hold in its reserve fund.
“We worked with imperfect information,” Birch said. “At times during this process I was a little uncertain we were going to come to an agreement on this budget.”
He said, however, that through a lot of hard work they were able to arrive at numbers that will result in a 2.7% increase in the mill rate.
Deluca spoke longer about the details of the BOE budget, which she described as meeting the needs of the Wilton School District in a cost-effective manner.
“This year’s budget answers our goals and priorities,” she said, citing strategic spending and resource allocation in order to keep the budget increase to the 3.6% that was recommended by the BOF.
Boucher defended the BOS budget and coming in above the BOF guidance by citing several factors, including expanding state mandates, public safety requirements, and what she described as “unprecedented growth” in Wilton, increasing the demand for town services.
She also took note of ongoing concerns related to her Finance Department, which has seen upheaval and troubled operations over the past year, creating conflicts between the BOF and Town Hall.
“We know there are concerns about the new [accounting] system that was not implemented correctly last year,” Boucher said. “This has not been easy to fix and it’s taken time and hard work. But the town’s finances are strong. Our costs are on budget and we are making steady progress every day.”
Road Restoration
With a new request in for road restoration bonding in the amount of $2,000,000, two residents said they would prefer that the town stopped bonding for this work and would instead return the expense to the BOS budget where it once was.
“We were not bonding roads for many many years,” Moses Alexander said. “They were paid out of the selectmen’s operating budget.”
The practice changed years ago, however, and he said it’s become habitual.
“The selectmen got addicted to that and couldn’t get it back in their budget, so I urge a ‘No’ vote on road paving,” Alexander said.
“It should be in my mind something that is part of the Board of Selectmen capital expenses that are not bonded,” former BOF member Paul Burnham said, “and I think it’s just a matter of the fact that we’ve been doing it this way that it’s difficult.”
While he said he would vote in favor of it still, he suggested the BOF look closer at the issue to see how much it was costing the town to bond the road restoration each year.
Other Cost Concerns
Resident Michael Graupner, a 50-year resident, said the cost of living in town was too high.
“It’s not just a lot of young people, a lot of young kids, asking for a $100-million school system,” he said, but others like himself who, he said, have to scramble to figure out how they’re going to pay their taxes.
“Look at the seniors,” Graupner said. “See what you can do for them. The current property tax program that Wilton offers is a joke.”
Resident Candace Cole expressed frustration that while residents are asked to vote on some important matters like the budgets and bonding, they are not asked about others. She cited the state’s Project Open Choice as something the town was not asked about — something she feels the district should not be involved in.
“We don’t need any outside students,” she said. “We can’t afford outside students.”
She also questioned why a new bathroom at Merwin Meadows was going to cost $500,000.
Favorable Feedback
Resident Bill Abrams shared an eager pitch in favor of the $300,000 being asked for pickleball courts, calling it a small investment that will be used for years to come.
“This isn’t just about sports,” he said. “It’s about creating a place where people come together across generations, gender and class to be active, social and connected … Pickleball is no longer just a senior activity. It’s one of the fastest growing sports in our country, where people of all ages get involved.
Several residents shared strong praise for Ambler Farm, including Lori Fusco, chair of the Historic District and Historic Property Commission.
“Historic preservation is about stewardship, protecting what makes Wilton distinct,” Fusco said. “Ambler Farm is one of our most treasured assets — a living connection to our agrarian roots and a place that truly sets our town apart.”
She and others voiced support for approving the farm’s new lease and bonding for the restoration of the Yellow House.
One question was raised about whether, as Boucher claimed in her presentation, the funding of the Yellow House would ultimately be cost neutral. Boucher said that Ambler Farm would be paying rent associated with the house to the town, but said “The amount has not yet been determined.”
Nine Items for Bonding
In opining on the nine items for bonding, the BOF gave its support to all but one. Instead, it officially gave “No Opinion” on the $1.2-million bonding proposal to replace the artificial turf field at Lily Field, which the BOS said they would not actually go out for bonding for it for at least a year.
The bonding items that are on the ballot for vote by residents are as follows:
#2: $2,000,000 for Road Restoration (approximately seven miles)
#3: $570,000 for Bridges (Kent Road Bridge Rehabilitation)
#4: $1,367,749 for renovation of Ambler Farm Yellow House
#5: $2,900,000 for Board of Education District Roof Replacement (partial roof replacement at Cider Mill School)
#6: $955,030 for Board of Education Cider Mill School Sitework, Doors and Windows
#7: $2,701,268 for Board of Education Cider Mill School Exterior Envelope Renovation
#8: $265,500 for Drainage and Pavement for the Parking Lot Adjacent to Guy Whitten Field
#9: $1,200,000 for Lilly Field Replacement
#10: $300,000 for four Outdoor Pickleball Courts
How Voting Works
Question #1 is specific to the budget and mill rate.
On the ballot residents have the option of voting ‘Yes, I approve’; voting ‘No, reject because the budget is too high’; or voting ‘No, reject because the budget is too low.’
If voting turnout does not hit a threshold of 15% of all eligible voters in Wilton — around 2,000 voters — the budget will automatically pass, regardless of the actual vote tally.
If the number of voters does meet the 15% threshold, the ‘Yes’ votes are counted and both kinds of ‘No’ votes are combined and counted together, and the vote is taken at face value, Yes vs. No.
If the No votes were to win, the BOF will be required to rework the budget and bring it back before the town prior to the end of Fiscal Year 2026, June 30.
Questions #2 through #12 will each be decided by a straight-forward vote tally, regardless of turnout percentage.
Questions #2 through #10 are the bonding referendums described above.
Questions #11 and #12 respectively pertain to establishment of a Capital and Non-Recurring Expenditures Fund (CNREF), and the lease with Friends of Ambler Farm.
Voting will continue on Saturday, May 9, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Clune Center (395 Danbury Rd.).
GOOD Morning Wilton has a recording of the livestream of the Tuesday evening meeting, below.
Editor’s note: Due to an editing error, the “Key points” and “Why it Matters” section was inadvertently omitted. It has been added to the story post-publication.