East Haven Mayor Proposes 2.81-Mill Rate Increase in Annual Budget Address

East Haven Mayor Proposes 2.81-Mill Rate Increase in State of the Town Address

East Haven Mayor Joseph Carfora delivered his annual State of the Town Address at East Haven High School on March 27, 2026, proposing a mill rate increase of 2.81 mills for the 2026–2027 municipal budget while highlighting what he described as a year of significant investment in public safety infrastructure.

The proposed increase — driven by rising contractual obligations across the town and school system — comes as East Haven continues to expand police capabilities and absorb higher-than-expected special education costs.

Budget Proposal Driven by Contractual and Education Costs

Carfora attributed the proposed mill rate increase to three main pressures: $6.5 million in additional special education costs, $5.4 million in town-side contractual obligations including wages, benefits, and insurance, and ongoing investments in public safety infrastructure.

The mayor framed the increase as necessary to sustain existing services rather than an expansion of government. Specific dollar figures for the overall budget were not released by the town at the time of the address.

Mill rate changes in East Haven directly affect property tax bills. A 2.81-mill increase on a property assessed at $200,000 would mean approximately $562 more in annual property taxes, assuming a 70 percent assessment rate. Residents in higher-assessed brackets would see proportionally larger increases, making the budget review process especially consequential for homeowners across the town.

Public Safety Investments Highlighted

Carfora devoted a substantial portion of his address to public safety, citing a department that responded to more than 28,000 calls for service in the past year.

He highlighted several infrastructure improvements made during the year:

• Advanced license plate reader technology deployed across the town
• Addition of a SWAT vehicle to the department's fleet
• Expanded traffic calming initiatives
• Integration of a social worker into police operations to handle non-enforcement situations

The East Haven Police Department also achieved Tier III State Accreditation, one of the highest levels of professional certification available to Connecticut law enforcement agencies. Tier III represents the most rigorous standard of Connecticut accreditation, evaluated across dozens of policy, training, and operational benchmarks.

The Fire Department, Carfora said, handled more than 5,400 calls for service, the majority of which were medical emergencies. The mayor highlighted an expansion of the Foxon Fire Station as a public safety improvement that has already improved response times in parts of the town.

Address Comes Days After Street Takeover Arrest

The State of the Town Address came four days after East Haven police formally charged Liam Walsh, 20, of Somerville, Massachusetts, in connection with a November 2025 street takeover at ShopRite Plaza, during which a masked mob attacked an occupied police cruiser. The arrest, made with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Fugitive Task Force, followed months of video-based investigation led by Detective Sergeant Jeffrey Vailette of the East Haven Police Department's Investigative Services Division.

Investigators have said more arrests are expected in that case. The Walsh arrest and the Carfora address together reflected a week in which public safety was at the forefront of East Haven's civic agenda.

What Comes Next for East Haven's Budget

The 2026–2027 municipal budget proposal will be subject to review by the Board of Finance and the Town Council, with public hearings expected in the coming weeks. Residents can attend these sessions to weigh in on the proposed mill rate increase and spending priorities.

The full budget proposal, including department-level line items and revenue projections, is expected to be posted on the town's official website as the process advances toward a final vote.

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