Frequently Asked Questions

When is my January 1 Tax Bill Due?  January 31^st.   Taxes may easily be paid online.  If mailed, the postmark must be January 31^st or earlier. 

Why are Wilton Real Estate Taxes Higher Than Our Neighbors?  They aren’t higher.  Just because our mill rate is higher than surrounding communities doesn’t mean our real estate taxes are higher.  The mill rate is only half the equation.  The following is the approximate median real estate tax for Wilton and similar neighboring communities.   Wilton ranks 3^rd lowest out of the six communities.               

Median                     Mill          Median

Market Value                Rate         Tax

Weston                      $  840,700                 32.97        $19,403

Darien                       $1,465,800                17.23        $17,679    

New Canaan            $1,245,400                18.37        $16,015

Wilton                       $   785,200                28.2289    $15,516

Westport                  $1,465,800                18.07        $14,116

Ridgefield                $   656,800                28.43        $13,071

Source-Median Market Value: US Census - ACS-7/1/21.  Taxes assessed on 70% of market value.

Why Does Wilton Spend So Much Less Per Student than Our Neighbors?  We don’t.  Our spending is line with our neighbors.  The most accurate apples to apples comparison of educational spending is prepared by the CT State Department of Education based on an annual detailed expenditure report submitted by each school district.  As below, Wilton’s per pupil spending was fairly consistent with New Canaan, Darien and Ridgefield in FY2022 and FY2021.  

Net Expenditure Per Pupil-Source: State Dept of Ed, Bureau of Financial Services

2022                          2021

Weston                      $24,262                      $23,601

Westport                   $24,149                      $23,358

Darien                       $23,180                      $22,838

Wilton                       $22,980                      $22,675

Ridgefield                $22,394                      $21,688

New Canaan            $22,164                      $21,898

And, as on this link, Wilton’s 10-year 4% average growth per pupil is consistent with Darien and Westport and 1% point higher than New Canaan and Weston. 

How Are My Tax Dollars Spent?  The current budget is broken down as follows:  66% Board of Education, 26% Town, 7% debt service, 1% reserves. 

How is the Budget Funded?  For the current year, 93% from property taxes, 4.3% from other revenues, including fees, licenses and education grants and 2.7% from prior year budget savings.   

Who pays the Property Taxes?:  Overall residents pay approximately 80% of property taxes and businesses and commercial property owners 20%, broken down as follows:  

- Real estate taxes, commercial and residential 89%,
- Personal property taxes, primarily commercial 5%,
- Motor vehicle taxes, primarily residential 6%.

What is the Status of the Proposed New Third Turf Field?   The Board of Selectmen has agreed to bring a proposal for a third field to the May Annual Town Meeting.  We hope to locate the field on state-owned land at Allen’s Meadow for the following reasons:

- Unlike a field located on school property, a field on Allen’s would not be prioritized for use by the schools.  Increasing use of fields by the schools is an ongoing issue for youth sports and adult leagues. A neutral field, which provides for greater all day, town wide use is preferred.
- The state-owned land at Allen’s is flat and free of water issues found at other locations. This allows for an easier and less costly installation of turf.

To accomplish this goal, we have asked the State for a revised lease which allows, among others, turf, lighting and a seasonal bubble.  We expect to receive a response this month.  

WARF recently provided $60,000 towards the cost from the sale of advertising at the Stadium.  The existing agreement between WARF and the Town requires net advertising proceeds be used to support turf fields. 

Why not turf the Guy Whitten Field?  DPW Director Frank Smeriglio discussed the issues with turfing the Guy Whitten field within a presentation to the Board of Selectment at the April 6^th meeting, the video of which is available on the town website, beginning at 47:54. Issues include:

- Storm mitigation drainage would occur in the area
- If turfed, the existing Guy Whitten field would need to be shifted into the adjacent parking lot by approximately 25 feet to accommodate the required stormwater runoff area and stormwater overflow area between fields. This would add to the cost of the field and mean the loss of a good number of parking spaces in a lot which is fully utilized during the school year. 
- The field would need to be raised 2 feet by the softball field and 6 feet by the JV baseball field, further significantly increasing the cost.
- The resulting field would extend into the baseball field reducing the distance from the field to home plate to 265 feet.

What is the Status of the Resident Proposed Domed Turf Field at Comstock? The Town hired an engineering firm to evaluate the area for such.  The preliminary data indicated Comstock was not a suitable site due to the ledge in the area and the significant cost associated with the ledge.  As far as other potential sites, the property would need to have access to public sewer and water and be able to accommodate a large parking lot in addition to the building itself.  State-owned Allen’s isn’t a viable site as the State wouldn't allow construction of that magnitude.  Town-owned Allen’s abuts wetlands and conservation lands, so it isn’t suitable.  The property at the corner of RT 7 and 107 is in a residential neighborhood and contains an historical structure, so it isn’t suitable.  

At this point, we haven't been able to identify a suitable location. As such, the Board of Selectmen changed our focus to a third turf field with a seasonal bubble as described above.  As an FYI, there isn’t sufficient space to put a seasonal bubble at the Stadium or Lilly. 

In 2022, I spoke with some area first selectmen about a regional facility, but they weren’t hearing the issues expressed by Wilton parents.  I plan to circle back later this winter. 

Is Anything Happening with a Dog Park?  A few years ago, Parks and Recreation Director Steve Pierce was contacted by a resident interested in leading a volunteer effort to submit a proposal and raise the necessary funds.  After some investigation, the effort didn’t move forward. Location was at least one issue.  Most of town-owned property contains wetlands and/or is in a residential area.  As we saw with the 2015 proposal for fields lights at Middlebrook and with Ambler Farm’s 2019 application to allow additional events, neighbors often oppose increased activity in their neighborhood, including through litigation.  

When developing the Master Plan for Schenck’s Island, a small dog park was proposed in an area outside the flood area and away from the river.  Residents, who provided comments, didn’t support the park noting it was too small.  As such, the park wasn’t included in the Master Plan.

What is the Status of Improvements to Schenck’s?  A discussion of possible funding for a playground is expected to be held at the January 9^th Board of Selectmen meeting.  A new playground for Merwin Meadows has been approved and funded.   Approval of a recommended contract for a new parking lot with electrical service and lighting is expected to occur at the January 24^th Board of Selectmen meeting. 

What is the Status of the Replacement of the Column at Town Hall?  After a series of delays due to conflicting engineer opinions and a lack of availability of materials, a recommended contract for related architectural services is being presented at the January 9^th Board of Selectmen meeting.

New Canaan or Darien Has -fill in the blank.  Why Doesn’t Wilton?  When asking this question, typically residents are citing town recreational infrastructure such as New Canaan or Darien’s multiple turf fields, New Canaan’s new outdoor ice rink or Waveny Park or town-owned swimming pool or playgrounds.  New Canaan or Darien residents have organized, presented proposals for privately funded or private/public funded amenities or improvements and provided the donated funds for many of these amenities and for their ongoing maintenance. In contrast, Wilton’s recent town recreational infrastructure improvements, Stadium Turf and Track, Lilly Turf, WHS and MB tennis courts, have been funded almost 100% by property taxes.  This doesn’t mean Wilton residents haven’t organized or donated.  They have (Back the Track, Time to Turf), but not on the same scale as New Canaan or Darien.  

Recent examples of donations for municipal turf, track or playgrounds were $3.1 million in New Canaan, $7.1 million in Darien and $81,000 in Wilton, as detailed here.   One reason why New Canaan and Darien may have received significantly more in donations is their residents have greater cumulative incomes than Wilton's and thus have a greater capacity to donate, as shown here and New Canaan and Darien residents donate at a higher rate across all income levels, not just the top level, as shown here. 

As above we are working toward a third turf field and two new playgrounds. 

Why Doesn’t Wilton Have an Indoor Ice Rink? Approximately 20+ years ago, Wilton residents proposed a public/private partnership with the Town to lease land on Station Road for construction of an Ice Rink and Senior Center.  The group had secured a management agreement with the Y and the required donations, including a multi-million dollar leadership donation from a single donor.  Voters turned down the proposed lease, primarily swayed by residents concerned the rink wouldn’t be self-sustaining and would become a financial burden to the Town.  The lead donor eventually moved out of Wilton. 

During my first 5 years in office, approximately six individuals spoke with me about the idea of an ice rink, but none returned after performing their due diligence.

Development and Zoning Proposals

If you missed my December Update please read it here.  It discusses potential impactful changes to Wilton Center and the area around the Train Station based on current activity by housing advocates, Wilton's Planning & Zoning Commission, state legislators and developers and includes links to information to help you decide what you want.  DesegregateCT a leading housing advocacy group will be holding a remote event on January 13th to announce their proposed legislation.  We'll be watching. 

Mark Your Calendar

January 22^nd:  Schenck’s Island Luminary Walk and Bonfire, 4:30 to 6:30.  Look for an upcoming release with additional information.

As always, please contact me at [email protected] with questions.  Please, no questions on Facebook. 

Lynne A Vanderslice 

First Selectwoman