FACTS
The desire to win at any cost means some people are willing to purposely mislead others. I will neither respond with similar negativity nor apologize for having bold plans. However, I have created this page to hold my critics accountable for what they’re saying. Moreover, I’ll do one better and give you the sources to refute their charges yourself. Message me at info@jaredliu.com if there’s something you read or hear that you want debunked.
1. Mill Rate
THEM: Wallingford’s mill rate is comparatively low in Connecticut.
FACT: This is only the case if you cherry-pick comparisons to cities and municipalities without the commercial base of large towns. Only 2 towns with 40,000 - 55,000 residents in CT have raised taxes more than Wallingford during the past 28 years, and 7 of the 12 towns actually decreased their mill rate. During this same time, Wallingford increased its mill rate by 20%.
2. Wallingford Electric Division
THEM: Wallingford still generates electricity.
FACT: After letting the electric generation equipment at Pierce Station power plant fall into disrepair, Wallingford sold the controlling share to CMEEC (the same company the Town sued over billing practices) in exchange for a rental payment. CMEEC upgraded the generator and now operates it for their profit. The Town carefully words their statements to say that electricity is still generated in Wallingford and that Wallingford still owns the land and building where generation resides, but I think we’re all clear that there is a substantive difference between electricity being generated in Wallingford vs. being generated by the Town of Wallingford.
Source: Oct. 15, 2019 Public Utilities Commission meeting minutes
3. Ashlar Village Taxes
THEM: The tax revenue lost by Ashlar Village receiving a 60% tax discount would only generate $21,679.45.
FACT: Wallingford’s Comptroller stated publicly that the tax break given by the mayor amounts to $600,000-700,000 this year alone.
Source: 2019 Budget Hearings (listen at 2 hours, 40 minutes)
4. Investment Returns
THEM: Investing pensions in an S&P 500 Index fund would have lost the town 22% since inception.
FACT: The average 10-year return for the S&P 500 was 14.56%, while Wallingford’s return was 5.9%. The town selectively chooses dates to highlight down years, includes data prior to the inception of our fund, and ignores that Wallingford is invested in high-fee funds.
Source: Yahoo Finance, 2018 Wallingford Pension Plan Valuation Report, FIA Investment Advisors Performance Summary
5. Shared Wifi Network
THEM: There is a shared open wifi network in Town Hall.
FACT: Anyone with a mobile device in Town Hall can see there isn’t a shared open network let alone an open one unless they’re piggybacking on XFinity’s shared network.
Source: screenshot taken on June 24, 2019.
6. Downtown Trees
THEM: The town held a fair bid process for downtown trees.
FACT: A bi-partisan commission led by Wallingford Center, Inc. made suggestions to the mayor which included:
a) A diverse array of species instead of the same two balled-and-burlapped varieties the town was planting.
b) Better quality tree stock that would survive longer and with fewer dropped limbs and diseases. The commission even confirmed with two CT-based nurseries that they had the recommended species in stock at a price of $20/tree instead of the $550/tree the town was paying.
c) Smarter planting locations to primarily to get the trees out from under power lines and no longer block business signs.
d) Creating and training a volunteer force to plant and care for trees, thereby saving the cost of installation and maintenance to the town. The commission secured support from the Town Council chairman for this.
Ultimately, the town disregarded these suggestions, bid the job out in the as they intended to, and it cost taxpayers more than it should have.
Source: Wallingford Center, Inc. Recommendations, Wallingford Bid Specifications
