In the autumn issue of Milford Living, we had the privilege of visiting with our former Mayor, Tony Giannattasio, as well as then-candidate Rich Smith to explore their hopes for Milford’s future. With the election now settled and a new term beginning, we’re pleased to share Mayor Rich Smith’s reflections and priorities, straight from the mayor himself.
On November 17, I had the honor of once again taking the oath to serve our city as Mayor. I take this pledge very seriously and I am very grateful to the people of Milford for their support, trust and encouragement as I begin my term as Milford’s 13th Mayor. Over the past several months, I had the opportunity to visit with hundreds of Milford residents: on front porches, at our community events, and in kitchens and living rooms. People were generous with their time, their ideas, their concerns and hopes for Milford’s future. I cherished these conversations, and I am forever grateful to all of you who participated.
Here in Milford, we’re not debating international treaties or immigration or tariff policies. Instead, our focus must be on maintaining good roads and infrastructure, keeping taxes low and providing relief for those on fixed incomes, ensuring adequate and attainable housing, fostering great schools and preserving our beaches and natural beauty. These are the things that impact our day-to-day lives the most. I often quote Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia, who once said that there is no Republican or Democratic way to fix a pothole; with that in mind let us, the elected leaders of our city, go forward with common purpose, civility, and collaboration. Let us set an example here in Milford of how it should be done: with respect and cooperation. Right now, our City budget is my top priority. Homeowners recently received notice of the state-mandated property revaluation that was conducted last year. For many of you, the increase was surely startling. The average increase was approximately 40%, and much higher in some places. I want to assure you that this increase in home value does not mean your local taxes will be going up by an equivalent percentage. The tax rate will be determined by the upcoming budget cycle, which does not formally get submitted until February of 2026. I am already working closely with our City departments to drive down operational costs through process improvements, reengineering, and technology. I am exploring all options to mitigate the impact of this revaluation, and will seek out new revenue sources to help offset the growing costs of goods and services. I commit to keeping taxes low while continuing to provide excellent services. Can it be done? Yes. Will it be easy? Certainly not. My other top priority is to develop better and more effective communication with you, the residents of Milford. Partisan social media pages are clearly not the answer. I will work tirelessly to make our city government more transparent and more accessible by delivering new ways to communicate and engage. I will look to schedule open houses to invite residents to come to City Hall and hear about what we do and what we’re working on. I have found that if we treat people with respect, honesty, and transparency, even when they don’t agree with a decision or a direction the city is taking, they will respond with that same respect.
During the recent campaign, in my many conversations with residents across the city, the common refrain was, “I love Milford.” Indeed, Milford is a special city that has been recognized many times in national press as a great place to live and retire. But that sort of recognition doesn’t just happen by accident or chance. The Milford we know and love is, today, the result of years of strong leadership, a clear vision, and the involvement of our incredible businesses and people. We must not take any of it for granted. As we head into a new year, I pledge to do the hard work of governing; to tackle the challenges we face head-on, in a collaborative manner, and to communicate with you clearly about my priorities and decisions. Milford is a constant work in progress, and future success depends upon all of us. For 2026, let us make a shared resolution to work together to continue to do our part.
With Gratitude,
Rich Smith
