Local Government
Coverage of Milford city government, Board of Aldermen, town committees, and local politics.
Milford Fire Marshal's Office Seeks 40% Permit Fee Increase; Adds New Permit Categories
Milford Deputy Fire Marshal Tim Suden told the Board of Fire Commissioners at its May 19 meeting that the Fire Marshal's Office is proposing to raise the percentage it charges on top of building department permit fees from 25 percent to 35 percent, a 40 percent relative increase that would not require Board of Aldermen approval. The change would generate roughly $17,000 to $20,000 in additional annual revenue based on current permit volume, with Suden arguing the office requires significantly more staff to meet national fire safety standards. The proposal also adds new permit categories for underground fire service mains and LP gas storage, and a paid fire extinguisher training service.
How Milford's Mill Rate Actually Gets Set — And Why No Politician Can Just Promise a Lower One
After Thursday's budget vote set the new mill rate at $28.67, readers have been asking some version of the same question: who actually decides this number? The answer is more interesting than most people assume — and it explains a great deal about how local tax policy actually works in Connecticut.
Milford Aldermen Approve $278M Budget 9-6 as Mill Rate Drops to $28.67
The Milford Board of Aldermen approved a $278.1 million city budget Thursday night on a 9-6 party-line vote, setting the new mill rate at $28.67 — down from prior years — but doing little to ease the bottom-line tax bills for residential homeowners facing the impact of the state-mandated 2025 revaluation. Republicans, in the minority, argued that the Democratic majority had the votes to cut deeper if it had chosen to.
Mayor Smith Implements Citywide Spending and Hiring Freeze
Mayor Rich Smith has put the city on a fiscal lockdown for the final quarter of the current fiscal year, freezing new hires, non-essential operational spending, out-of-state travel, and most overtime through June 30. The mayor pointed to $9.4 million in new contractual obligations the city is locked into paying, rising healthcare costs, and an unusually difficult winter. Public safety departments are exempt.
Monday 4.27 Budget Hearing Recap
Monday's Board of Aldermen budget session produced more news from a single department than most full meetings: Public Works Director Chris Saley confirmed he plans to leave city employment "sometime in the next year and a half," defended 27 vacant-but-funded positions worth roughly $1.2 million, and acknowledged the city spent nearly 13 times its snow removal budget this winter. The new Department of Permitting and Land Use director also signaled major staffing changes ahead, and Bridges Healthcare warned of $2 million in potential federal funding losses.
Fire Chief Out, Wasson Scrapped, Senior Center Drawing on Reserves: Budget Night Roundup
Wednesday night's Board of Aldermen budget hearing turned into a series of revelations: the fire chief and both assistant chiefs are retiring, the $4.9 million Wasson Field health department building has been abandoned without a board vote, and the Senior Center has already pulled $100,000 from its reserve fund just to meet payroll obligations. Here's what Milford residents need to know.
512-Unit Housing Development on Wheelers Farm Road
The Milford Planning and Zoning Board approved a 512-unit mixed-use development on a 47-acre site at 474-488 Wheelers Farm Road Tuesday night. The project includes 364 multifamily apartments and a 150-unit building for residents 55 and older.
Milford Police Requested $1.1M for Cruisers and Body Cameras.
The Milford Police Department requested $290,000 for new cruisers and $819,306 for its Axon body camera and taser contract in the upcoming fiscal year. Mayor Richard Smith's proposed budget recommends $0 for both.
192 Signatures and a Warning for City Hall
Dozens of seniors filled the Board of Aldermen chambers Wednesday night, pushing back on a flat Senior Center budget and arguing that standing still means falling behind as costs rise.
Mayor Smith Announces Five-Year Phase-In to Soften 40% Property Revaluation Impact
Mayor Rich Smith announced a five-year phase-in of new property assessments to soften the blow of Milford's revaluation, which increased property values by an average of 40 percent.
Packed House at April Board of Aldermen Meeting as Residents Sound Off on Taxes, Short-Term Rentals, and Public Safety
From reassessment sticker shock to a heated short-term rental debate, Milford residents filled City Hall Monday night with plenty to say — and aldermen had a full agenda of their own, including school construction grants, new board appointments, and a contested vote on the Founders Walk project.
New Mayor Smith Calls for Unity
Civility emerges as dominant theme at first meeting under new administration MILFORD — Mayor Richard Smith's first Board of Aldermen meeting Monday night was marked by calls for bipartisanship and civility from multiple speakers, even as a contentious 9-6 vote on a Milford Power Plant settlement exposed lingering partisan divisions.
Long-Serving Alderwoman Ellen Bey Honored After 10 Years of Service; Board Addresses Civility Concerns
MILFORD, CT – In an emotional meeting Wednesday night, the Milford Board of Aldermen said goodbye to four departing members while approving a $4.1 million police equipment contract and hearing pleas from residents about short-term rental problems plaguing local neighborhoods. The November 6, 2025 meeting marked the final session for Aldermen Ellen Bey, Scott Marlo, Jason Jenkins, and Ray Vitali, with particular attention paid to Dr. Ellen Russell Bey's decade of service representing both the first and fifth districts.