About the Town of Trumbull
Trumbull Advocates for Residents and Business Effectively Navigating the Impact of National and State Policy, Trumbull has a Strong Voice at the Table - First Selectman Vicki Tesoro In Trumbull, 2019 is off to a great start. We have growth in our Grand List, we have held the line on spending, and we continue to have a strong fund balance. However, while our strong management continues locally, our residents, businesses and our town as a whole are impacted by national and state policy.
T he Town of Trumbull is a vibrant community of more than 36,000 citizens. An excellent place to live and work, Trumbull combines small-town New England character and charm with extensive retail, commercial, and light manufacturing activity. The town’s highly rated school system, safe environment, conveniences and amenities, and business support resources are just some reasons why Money Magazine, Relocate America, and Connecticut Magazine have recognized Trumbull as one of the most desirable towns to live in. Trumbull can boast the most recreational and open space per capita in the state. With twenty parks that include hiking and biking trails, tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a BMX bike track, tot lots, playgrounds, numerous sports fields, and a golf course, Trumbull residents enjoy an exceptional quality of life.
Nationally, the 2018 Tax Reform Act, which limits deductions for State Income and Local Property Taxes (SALT), is negatively affecting some of our residents. On the State level, the newly elected administration has proposed changes that will impact Trumbull. As of this submission, Trumbull is slated for a reduction of Education Cost Sharing (ECS) of $655,538 and a newexpense of $510,870 for the Town’s allocation of Teachers’ Retirement Contributions. I have written to the administration in Hartford and spoken to key leaders asking them to review these proposals, as I believe Trumbull’s allocation is disproportionate. With regard to school regionalization, I reviewed three Bills proposed this legislative session and testified in Hartford before the Education Committee on March 1, 2019. I believe our school system is critical to our identity as a community. I oppose forced regionalization. I believe a better course of action is to encourage communities to voluntarily join forces to control costs in non- instructional areas. The issue of regionalization should be fully studied so everyone understands the financial, instructional and decision-making impacts on their communities. A vibrant retail environment is critically important to Trumbull’s Grand List. To that end, I submitted testimony to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee in February opposing SB475- An Act Increasing the Sales Tax Rate and Dedicating the Additional Revenue to Municipalities. The advent of online retail giants offering low prices and swift delivery has had a drastic effect on the industry and the real estate that once housed these vibrant retail centers. While I can appreciate the effort to seek new ways to support increases in municipal revenue, this Bill would do more harm than good. Increasing the sales tax will only put brick and mortar retailers at a further competitive disadvantage, a blow they cannot afford at this time. WorkingwithMetroCOGandmy colleagues in the greater Bridgeport region, I signed a letter of support for HB7055- An Act Creating the Connecticut Gaming Commission and Creating a Competitive
Bidding Process for a Resort-Casino. The potential for a resort- casino in Bridgeport will provide thousands of jobs, generate hundreds of millions in gaming and tax revenues for the State and the region, and be a catalyst for other business growth. Trumbull is also working with other towns and cities in our region to address the impact of the fallout in the recycling market. Towns went from receiving $25 a ton in payment to paying $75 a ton to process recyclables. The fiscal impact for Trumbull is approximately $350,000 just this coming year. To view my full testimony on any of the Bills andmatters noted above, please visit Trumbull’s website at www.trumbull-ct.gov. We further engage and share our voice to support and advocate for sound public policy decisions with local businesses and legislators and the chief elected officials of neighboring towns at round-table discussions hosted by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and the Trumbull Chamber of Commerce. As is my policy, I am available to listen to the concerns of our residents and businesses at any point. By working together, we can construct effective policy to strengthen all of our communities and insure that Connecticut is a vibrant, innovative, healthy, and attractive place where people and businesses want to be.
TRUMBULL
DEMOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW: For full report visit CERC Town Profiles 2018 at www.cerc.com Population 2012 - 2016: 36,477 2020 Projection: 35,389 Median Age: 43 Households: 12,040 Median HH Income: $112, 674
ECONOMIC OVERVIEW: Labor Force (2016) : 18,189
Employed: 17,422
Business Profile (2016) Sector
Units Employment
TRUMBULL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BRIDGEPORT REGIONAL BUSINESS COUNCIL As a chamber affiliate of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, the Trumbull Chamber of Commerce (TCC) works specifically to enhance the growth of individual businesses by facilitating partnerships and providing services and support to satisfy Trumbull’s unique business needs. Through networking events, legislative advocacy, and other services, the Trumbull Chamber of Commerce has been effective in identifying and meeting the needs of local businesses while advocating for regional growth and cooperation. Please contact Jeff Bishop, Executive Director at bishop@brbc.org to find out how you can engage in Trumbull’s current and future economic prosperity.
Total
1,103
15,486
All Industries Construction
23
117
303 630
31-33 Manufacturing 44-45 Retail Trade
18
154
2,766 3,213 1,196 1,562
62 72
Health Care, Social Assistance 141
62 21
Accomodation-Food Service
1
Government
Top Five Grand List
Major Employers
Westfield Trumbull Mall Digital 60 & 80 Merritt LLC Town of Trumbull RDR 5520 LLC ( Park Ave. Medical Center ) St. Joseph’s Manor PAR Old Town LLC ( Royce at Trumbull ) Kennedy Center United Illuminating Unilever Westfield Trumbull Mall
Commuters into-from :
Commuters from-to:
Bridgeport Trumbull Stratford Shelton Milford Monroe Fairfield
2,747 1,724 1,073
Bridgeport Trumbull Fairfield Stamford Norwalk Stratford Shelton
1,991 1,724 1,417 1,329 1,155
854 640 546 506
870 827
Pictured L-R: Dan Onofrio, President & CEO, Bridgeport Regional Business Council; Vicki Tesoro, First Selectman, Town of Trumbull; Kate Hampford Donahue, President, Hampford Research Inc and Board Chair of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council; Jeff Bishop, Executive Driector, Trumbull Chamber of Commerce
22 REGION | GREATER BRIDGEPORT
REGION | GREATER BRIDGEPORT 23
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