Town Council Candidate Questionnaire, Answer #4

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As a service to our readers, we will be republishing the replies to our Town Council Candidate Questionnaire question by question, one each day until Election Day. This was the fourth query:

Southington’s current yearly general budget is about $188 million. If an extra $5 million per year was suddenly deposited into Southington’s coffers, how would you want the town government to deal with this opportunity?

The replies - ordered by candidate last name - were as follows:

Paul Chaplinsky (R)

It’s important to note that Southington’s budget process is built from the bottom up. Each board and department critically reviews what’s necessary to operate effectively, and only after those reviews does the mill rate get set to generate the required revenue.

If, after that process, an additional $5 million became available annually, this would mean it would be coming from the taxpayers in an ongoing basis, so my first instinct would be to return as much of it as possible to taxpayers. Before doing so, however, we should assess whether any critical grants for public safety or education were not awarded, or whether the state failed to meet certain funding commitments—as has happened in recent years. Addressing those shortfalls in identified, needed, and agreed investments first would ensure essential services remain strong, while still prioritizing taxpayer relief.

Jennifer Clock (R)

We should take cues from the extensive feedback we’ve received from our residents. Our most recent survey via the POCD process noted the highest priorities were infrastructure updates, preserving open space and supporting our first responders. However, much like a budget season this all needs to be assessed and wherever possible excess revenue from a fiscal bubble should be returned to taxpayers in the form of savings or reinvestment.

Michael DelSanto (R)

If an extra $5 million per year were suddenly deposited into Southington’s coffers, my priority would be to encourage others on the Town Council to return it to the taxpayers. The Southington Finance Board consistently demonstrates fiscal responsibility by preparing budgets that only request the funds necessary to operate both the Board of Education and town government. Reducing the financial burden on residents rather than expanding spending unnecessarily should occur.

George Doherty (D)

I believe that the Town Council can work supportively with the Board of Education to drive targeted investments in College Counseling which would have a huge payoff for the school through better college acceptance performance and better results in Southington graduates receiving merit aid from colleges. This will lead to improved school perception and rankings, which would drive property value appreciation, which would attract businesses to town to increase the grand list and increase our tax revenue, ultimately lowering the taxes of individuals in the town. This is a virtuous loop, which many towns throughout the state and near us like Farmington and Glastonbury have experienced with highly ranked schools, good student experiences, better home prices, and a stronger business environment.

Charles E. Green, Jr. (D)

I would like the town government to use this surplus to address issues dealing with our Educational System (of course allocating funds to the Board of Education to use appropriately). Address issues dealing with our roads, improve surface/drainage of our roads, and provide sidewalks were necessary. Use some of the surplus to increase staffing and programing at town sites for the public, such as the Library. The town should also look at allocating funds from the surplus to pay down on debt that we have. Once this debt has been eliminated, this will allow the town to save money and to spend money on other areas of town management that will benefit the town.

Shawn Grindle (D)

You mean beyond having Zion Lutheran set up a year-round fritter booth on the green? Look, this is a great thought experiment. I would view this windfall as an opportunity to invest in the community and set up our town for long-term economic stability.

I am a longtime Mason and Shriner, as well as an Eagle Scout, meaning that giving back and building community has been at my core for most of my life. I’d target social programs in town that would expand support for seniors to stay in their homes, add childcare assistance for working families (including after-school care), and, near and dear to my heart, add to the mental health and special education services in our schools. All of these would improve the quality of life in town, which would, in turn, attract new families and businesses to settle here.

Secondly, I’d use a large portion of these funds toward economic development that will pay off long term. We need to attract and retain midsize employers in town from fields like manufacturing, tech, and professional services. When businesses see a skilled, stable community to operate in, we can grow the grand list responsibly without putting pressure on residents and town services.

Kristen Marie Guida (D)

If Southington suddenly received $5 million, I would recommend investing in infrastructure improvements, such as paving local roads and installing sidewalks in high pedestrian areas to improve safety and accessibility. I would also consider using a portion of the funds to help support low-income

seniors through targeted tax relief. Our senior residents have contributed so much to this community, and providing them with financial assistance would be a meaningful way to give back while strengthening Southington’s sense of care and community.

Jim Morelli (R)

That 5 million would almost make up for the unfunded mandates that Hartford Democrats put on our town. We never know what they will decide to cover and not cover so the budget process is difficult.

Tony Morrison (R)

This is an interesting question as this may well happen next year. Revaluation of taxable property is when the value of property catches up with inflation. It occurs every five years and it is happening now for next year’s budget. Inflation is at 19% since the last revaluation and so our Grand List will increase significantly beyond normal growth. I will advocate strongly that these extra revenues are primarily used for decreasing the mill rate to lighten the tax burden. Republicans did this five years ago when we had a zero mill rate increase. As always, I operate on a question of balance, so I will also evaluate if any of our services need to be adjusted upwards as a secondary consideration.

Chris Palmieri (D)

If the town suddenly had an extra $5 million a year, I would suggest we use those funds on improving our roads because that is what I hear about most often from residents. Investing in our roads isn’t just about convenience; it’s about safety, long-term cost savings, and maintaining the quality of life that people in Southington expect. By addressing these needs proactively, we can avoid more expensive repairs in the future and show residents that we’re listening and responding to one of their top concerns.  I would make sure we approach it responsibly by setting clear priorities, using competitive bidding, and ensuring transparency so taxpayers can see exactly how that investment is improving our community.

Joshua Serafino (R)

If there was an unexpected $5 million in Southington's budget, I would like to see it spent responsibly and for the long-term benefit of Southington. In addition to supporting our first responders, I would concentrate on making improvements in infrastructure, such as repairing and enhancing our public buildings, roads, and recreational spaces. 

David Zoni (D)

This hypothetical situation would first require an assessment of our fiscal position at that time. What is our level of indebtedness? If the debt service portion of our budget is higher than it should be, to a point where the rating agencies may prohibit us from borrowing at a more favorable rate, we might want to use the additional funding to pay down some of the debt. If we are in a favorable fiscal position, we should consider utilizing the additional funds to control any increase in property taxes. And lastly, we might consider using the funds to make needed capital expenditures or infrastructure investments that had been pushed into the future.