Last year after Tolland had to hold six referendums to pass a budget, town leaders initiated a program of community conversations to improve communication between government and residents.

"The key is to foster ways to exchange information, so when residents do go to vote, they know what they’re voting for," Town Manager Stephen Werbner said in explaining the rationale for the conversations.

Begun in September, they have now culminated in a vision statement for town services, similar to kind of statements corporations and institutions use to articulate their guiding principles.

And while the budget impasse of last year was not the sole impetus for community conversation, budget issues feature prominently in the vision statement.

One provision says budgets should have a goal of limiting tax increases to between 2 and 4 percent, excluding grand list growth.

Others emphasize fiscal efficiency, such as hiring a consultant to develop a pavement management plan and convening a blue ribbon commission to review energy costs.

A version of the vision statement on the town website begins as follows:

"Tolland is recognized as a desirable community in which to live. Community means a sense of shared values accompanied by the willingness to ensure the safety, well being and respect of our neighbors and neighborhoods. The Town provides efficient and high quality services in a fiscally responsible and efficient way."