The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received September 29, 2026.
Over the past several months, I have been relatively quiet as our community has worked through some important and, at times, difficult debates. I have listened to discussions about the town budget and mill rate, several rounds of debate over the RSD 17 budget, and most recently the vote to move forward with the renovation of Haddam-Killingworth High School.
During that time, I have tried to do more listening than talking. As a Selectman, I have little direct control over some of these decisions, but they have a very real impact on the town and the people I serve. I want to be clear that the thoughts below are my own. I am writing as one Selectman and one Killingworth resident, not on behalf of the Board of Selectmen. As we head into another budget season, I wanted to share some thoughts about where I believe we are and what lies ahead.
I have heard from residents worried about increasing taxes. I have heard concerns about our roads, infrastructure and town services. And I have heard from parents and residents who want to make sure we continue to have strong schools and facilities for our students. All of those concerns are legitimate. But with many of those votes now behind us, I think it is time to have a very candid conversation about Killingworth’s financial future. I am optimistic about our town, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the numbers in front of us. We have several significant financial challenges coming together at the same time.
Our Changing Financial Relationship with RSD 17
For well over a decade, Killingworth benefited from a demographic trend that worked in our favor. Our share of RSD 17 enrollment was declining relative to Haddam, which meant our share of the district budget declined as well. For over a decade, Killingworth’s share of the school budget remained relatively flat even as the overall district budget increased. There was even a year when Killingworth’s assessment actually went down. That trend has ended.
The change began several years ago, and we are already seeing what it means. Killingworth’s RSD 17 assessment has climbed significantly in recent years and is now more than $20 million. Recent enrollment trends are no longer providing the protection they once did. Going forward, Killingworth should expect to feel increases in the RSD 17 budget much more directly. And when education represents the overwhelming majority of the spending supported by our local property taxes, those increases matter a great deal to Killingworth taxpayers.
The town has significant capital needs of its own. Roads, buildings, emergency equipment and other infrastructure all need to be maintained and eventually replaced. Our long term capital planning suggests we need approximately $1.3 million each year just to take care of these basic responsibilities and keep the town functioning. That is before we start talking about other capital projects or community enhancements, including the parks and Parmelee Farm that are such an important part of our town.
Our contribution this year toward our capital needs was only about half that amount. We can put some of these expenses off, but they don’t go away. A road, building repair or piece of essential equipment usually doesn’t get cheaper because we waited another year to deal with it.
The High School Renovation Project
I think it is entirely possible to recognize the value of investing in our schools while also being honest about what that investment is going to cost. The referendum approving a $151.9 million renovation of Haddam-Killingworth High School has passed. After anticipated state reimbursement, the estimated local project cost is $77.2 million, which will be financed over time. Including interest, the current estimate puts the total local cost at approximately $100 million over the life of the debt. At roughly a 40% share, Killingworth’s portion would be approximately $40 million.
And it is important to understand what that estimate assumes. The $100 million figure assumes anticipated state reimbursements are received and current project cost estimates are correct. This is a substantial new financial obligation that needs to be part of our planning from this point forward.
We have very little commercial or industrial tax base. We are overwhelmingly a residential community. I value that, and I know many other people do too. It is a big part of what makes Killingworth Killingworth. But there is a financial consequence. When school costs go up, town expenses increase, roads and equipment need attention, and debt service comes online, we don’t have a large commercial or industrial tax base to help absorb those costs. The overwhelming majority of those increased costs will ultimately fall on residential property taxpayers.
What Do We Do?
I don’t think there is an easy answer, and I would be skeptical of anyone who says there is. We can continue largely on our current path. But if costs continue to rise and our tax base doesn’t change significantly, we should expect continued pressure on property taxes for the foreseeable future.
We can substantially reduce spending. We should always be looking for efficiencies and questioning expenses. But we should also be honest about the scale of cuts that would be necessary to really change the numbers. At some point those decisions would affect services, staffing, infrastructure, education, or some combination of them.
We also can have a serious conversation about expanding our tax base. That doesn’t mean abandoning Killingworth’s rural character or opening every piece of land to development. But I think we need to be willing to discuss whether carefully planned economic development and appropriate commercial activity could broaden our Grand List and take some pressure off residential taxpayers.
And then there is bonding. I support bonding for major capital investments that will serve the town for many years and whose cost would be unreasonable to absorb over just a few budget cycles. A fire truck or public building are good examples. If an asset is going to serve residents for decades, there is a reasonable argument that its cost should be spread over time as well.
I am much more concerned about borrowing for smaller expenses that occur again and again simply to keep them out of today’s mill rate. To me, that starts to look a little like maintaining your household budget by putting regular expenses on a credit card. It helps this month, but the expense hasn’t disappeared. Eventually the bill comes due, with interest, while next month’s bills keep arriving. Bonding may help us manage particularly difficult years and avoid an unbearable burden falling on taxpayers all at once. But it cannot become a substitute for funding the recurring expenses we know will be back again next year.
Maybe the answer is some combination of all of these things. Maybe there are other ideas I have not seriously considered yet. I don’t pretend to know today which combination will be least painful for Killingworth. I do believe the challenges are real, and they are getting closer. Ignoring them won’t make them less expensive, and waiting to talk about them won’t make the eventual decisions any easier.
I also don’t think this is the time for finger pointing. I don’t care whether a good idea comes from a Democrat, Republican, Unaffiliated voter, Board of Finance member, Board of Education member, town employee or resident. Name calling, partisan politics and blaming one another for decisions that have already been made won’t fix any of this. What matters most to me now is whether we are willing to acknowledge where we are and work together on where we go from here.
As a Selectman, I am willing to do that. I am willing to work with anyone, regardless of political affiliation or past disagreements, who wants to approach these challenges seriously and constructively. I believe my record shows that I have always been willing to work across the aisle when it is in the best interest of Killingworth.
And I think we need to move beyond simply talking about working together. As we begin the next budget cycle, I would like to see joint conversations involving Killingworth’s Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and RSD 17. The largest pieces of our financial future are connected. We need to understand their combined impact and start planning for them together rather than dealing with each one in isolation.
I remain optimistic about Killingworth. We have a lot going for us, including people who care deeply about this community. But optimism does not mean pretending difficult choices aren’t coming.
They are.
Joel D’Angelo, Killingworth
The author is a member of the Killingworth Board of Selectmen.
