I’m running for Mayor because Stratford keeps coming up short. Year after year, we don’t have enough money to pay our bills. So, taxes go up—or services go down.
I’ve spent months reviewing Stratford’s budgets from the past decade, and what I found is deeply concerning. Stratford already has one of the highest tax rates in the region at 40.2 mills—just below Bridgeport. Compared to Milford (29.14), Fairfield (27.9), and Shelton (19.18), it’s clear that our residents are paying too much and receiving too little in return.
Mayor Hoydick’s proposed $266 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year claims a $7 million revenue increase—approximately 3.5% – without raising the mill rate. However, historically, revenue has only grown at a rate of 1.3% per year (in a world where we have 3 to 4% inflation, so we are always in a deficit) So, where’s the extra money coming from this year? *
It’s not new development or smart growth. Instead, the Town’s new Tax Assessor has ended a group of longstanding tax breaks provided to Stratford manufacturing firms. Many years ago Stratford exempted $286 million worth of manufacturing equipment from property taxes to encourage those companies to invest, costing all us other taxpayers about $7 million yearly. But these exemptions were supposed to expire in 5 years by state law, but due to an error, erroneously remained tax exempt for many, many years.
Now that the Assessor is limiting these exemptions, the Town is able to tax over $200 Million of the exempt property, resulting in the potential for $7 million new revenue, which should have been collected all along. It is not clear how much of the $200M related taxes are still even collectable. Without this discovered error, revenues would have declined this year and our taxes would have had to go up. Many would call that cooking the books. At a time when inflation is at 3%, we need real, sustainable revenue growth—not one-time gimmicks.
Additionally, there’s a plan to raise $500,000 from speed cameras near schools. With an average fine of $65, that would require over 7,500 tickets in a year—more than 20 per day. It’s unrealistic.
On the spending side there are some notables.
- The Mayor just got a 17% salary increase with yearly 2.5% increases.
- The budget assumes healthcare costs will drop from $14 million to $11.5 million—an 18% decrease. However, healthcare costs are rising, not falling. As a healthcare executive with over 40 years of experience, I have never seen a budget slashed like this without a solid plan to support it. Connecticut’s Office of Health Strategy just reported a 7.8% increase for large self-insured employers. ** Cutting our town’s health budget—when the fund is already in deficit—is simply not credible.
- The budget also ignores a $1 million gap in special education costs, despite increases in state assistance for these expensive programs. This shortfall is likely to recur next year—especially given the deep cuts our schools have faced. The Board of Education has described the current budget as “foundational,” but that characterization doesn’t match the reality families and educators are seeing: librarians and tutors have been laid off, class sizes are increasing, and homeowners are paying more while receiving less—especially compared to neighboring towns.
Worse still, this budget fails to protect us from known challenges that won’t appear until after Election Day. The property revaluation is coming but won’t take effect until next year. The same goes for potential shortfalls in healthcare and education funding.
Stratford deserves better. I’m running for Mayor because I know how to grow revenue the right way—by attracting investment, building partnerships, and developing long-term strategies. Nearly all of Stratford’s income comes from homeowners and state grants. That’s not sustainable. I have a plan to change that.
It’s time for fresh leadership—and genuine solutions.
David Chess, MD, is a local physician, healthcare entrepreneur, and is running for Mayor in Stratford, CT.
** https://www.cbia.com/news/featured/2025-health-insurance-rates/
All Opinion pieces and Letters to the Editor reflect the thoughts of the writer, and not necessarily those of the Stratford Crier or its Editorial Board.
Hopefully you can keep your promises like trump has