Residents press Woodbridge leaders on rising property taxes and downtown development

Several residents used the public-comment period to tell the council they are feeling the strain of rising property taxes and related cost pressures.

Rashida C. Warren said her first‑ and second‑quarter tax bills had risen significantly this year and that many other residents she follows online reported similar increases: "My first and second quarter taxes have gone up significantly this year," she said. Lyle Howard later told the council his calculations showed an approximate 8.9% increase when comparing like billing periods and noted a pending Middlesex Water Company filing that he said could raise water rates about 16%, compounding affordability concerns.

Mayor John McCormick responded at length, explaining how estimated billing cycles (January and July catch-ups) can make short‑term comparisons misleading and saying the municipal portion of the tax bill did not increase in fiscal 2024: "We did not have a tax increase in fiscal 24," he said. The mayor outlined the four components of a tax bill — school district, municipal, county and fire district — and encouraged residents to contact the tax office for a line‑by‑line explanation.

On development, the mayor disputed that downtown apartments are the cause of rising tax bills and said new projects have generated revenue for the town: "The 5 projects downtown have probably given us over $5,000,000 a year," he said while also explaining his view that incremental school costs per new student are often small. Residents raised concerns about displacement and affordability; the mayor urged individual residents to seek help from the tax office and promised follow‑up communications for affected neighborhoods.

No formal action or changes to tax policy were taken at the meeting; council members invited affected residents to contact municipal staff for assistance and explanation of their bills.