Articles & Links
Curated external resources and media relevant to Middlebury’s civic discussions.
“As CT towns plan their budgets, some anticipate huge tax increases. Here’s why”
Hartford Courant - 2025-04-08
Several Connecticut towns are facing significant tax increases or budget cuts due to rising costs and reduced state aid. Wallingford is proposing a 19% tax hike, largely driven by revaluation and a shift in the tax burden to residential property owners, while Middletown anticipates a 9% increase, citing soaring health insurance premiums and declining car tax revenue. Homeowners in these towns could see hundreds of dollars in additional annual costs. Meanwhile, cities like Norwich and New London are considering workforce reductions, with Norwich potentially cutting 10% of its staff and New London eliminating municipal jobs and canceling long- standing events to avoid raising taxes. These challenges stem from fixed costs, dwindling federal pandemic relief, and insufficient state funding for education.
Added 23 days ago
"Southbury's IBM campus is for sale, forcing cuts to economic director position and town budget"
CT Insider - 2025-04-11
Southbury implemented significant cuts to its municipal budget for 2025-26 due to a $1 million annual tax revenue loss following IBM's property value reduction from $74 million to $19 million. The economic development director position was nearly eliminated, reducing hours to save $100,000, despite concerns about its impact on the town's economic growth. Additional cuts included postponing library hires, freezing hiring, reducing public works expenses, and scaling back the Southbury Celebration event. These measures reflect the town's struggle to balance its budget amidst declining revenue, potentially affecting services and economic development efforts.
Added 18 days ago
“Municipalities say CT’s property tax system is unsustainable”
CT Mirror - 2016-09-12
The article highlights several negative aspects of Connecticut's tax and budget system from a taxpayer's perspective. The state's reliance on property taxes, which are regressive and do not account for taxpayer's ability to pay, is deemed unsustainable. Connecticut's per capita property tax burden is among the highest in the nation, and exemptions mandated by state law force municipalities to raise property tax rates further. Additionally, state grants meant to offset revenue losses from these exemptions fall short, leaving cities like Hartford and Mansfield with over half of their property exempt from taxation. Budget cuts have also impacted planned revenue-sharing, with municipalities receiving less than promised, while other municipal grants were reduced by $100 million to address state deficits. These dynamics contribute to increasing financial strain on taxpayers and local governments.
Added 23 days ago
“Winsted taxes rise due to higher education costs and shrinking grand list, officials say”
The Register Citizen - 2025-05-11
The town of Winsted is proposing a 7.1% tax increase for the 2025-26 fiscal year, raising the mill rate from 27.24 to 29.17 mills. This would result in a $483 annual tax hike for a home assessed at $250,000. The increase is driven by rising education costs, including special education and health benefits, alongside inflation and expiring grants. Budget cuts are eliminating many town employees, while the town's grand list has shrunk by nearly $5 million, and state funding remains flat, further straining resources.
Added 23 days ago
“Report: Connecticut’s Property Taxes Exceed Most of New England and Tri-State Area”
Yankee Institute - 2025-03-06
Connecticut homeowners face the third-highest effective property tax rates in the nation, with an average rate of 1.92%, significantly above the national average of 0.98%. This high tax burden exacerbates the state's already high cost of living, making it increasingly unaffordable for middle-class residents and small businesses. These elevated property taxes, combined with high income taxes and fees, contribute to the state's reputation for being financially challenging for its residents.
Added 23 days ago
“Wallingford mayor proposes 19% increase in budget draft”
CT POST - 2025-04-03
Mayor Vincent Cervoni has proposed a $207.2 million budget for Wallingford, which includes a significant 19.18% property tax increase. This would raise the average tax bill from $5,786 to $6,896, placing a heavier financial burden on residents, especially due to a recent revaluation that increased residential property values far more than commercial properties. Additionally, stagnant state funding for education has exacerbated the town's financial challenges, effectively reducing resources over time and contributing to the need for higher taxes.
Added 23 days ago
“Wallingford Mayor Proposes 19% Tax Increase In 2025-26 Budget”
Patch - 2025-04-02
Wallingford Mayor Vincent Cervoni has proposed a 2025-26 budget that includes a 19.18% tax increase for homeowners due to property revaluation, despite a reduction in the mill rate from 30.66 to 24.84. The budget requires $147.9 million in local property taxes, a 5.94% increase from the previous year. Additionally, the Board of Education's requested budget increase was reduced by $382,900, and the town faces rising costs in health insurance, debt service, and pension funding. The exhaustion of one- time funds like CRRA and ARPA further adds financial pressure, requiring $9 million from the town's fund balance to offset costs (an unsustainable step to mitigate financial turmoil).
Added 23 days ago
“CT mayor says Hamden revaluation crisis will spread across the state”
CT NPR - 2025-04-29
Hamden homeowners are facing steep property tax increases following a state-mandated revaluation, with assessed home values rising by an average of 55%. Despite Mayor Lauren Garrett's proposal to lower the mill rate by 22%, many residents will still experience significant tax hikes, with some seeing increases of 10-20% and others facing doubled tax bills due to assessments spiking as much as 130%. The imbalance between rising residential property values and stagnant commercial property values has shifted more of the tax burden onto homeowners, exacerbating financial strain. Residents, particularly those on fixed incomes, are struggling to afford the new tax reality, and frustration boiled over at a heated town council meeting where residents criticized the town's leadership for not doing more to mitigate the impact.
Added 23 days ago
“Hamden residents outraged over tax hikes: Mayor says her hands are tied”
WTNH - 2025-04-26
Hamden residents are facing significant tax hikes due to dramatic increases in property assessments following a mandatory revaluation, as required by state law every five years. The average residential assessment rose by 55%, driven by post-pandemic real estate market spikes, which has left many taxpayers frustrated. Long-term financial struggles, including pension obligations and accumulated debt, further exacerbate the town's fiscal challenges.
Added 23 days ago
“Hamden braces for tax increase following property value reassessment”
NBC CT - 2025-04-30
Homeowners in Hamden are dealing with significant tax increases following a state-mandated property value reassessment, with residential property values rising an average of 55% due to pandemic-driven bidding wars. Mayor Lauren Garrett revealed that some residents could see a $3,000 spike in their tax bills, despite efforts to lower the mill rate and consider a phased approach to soften the impact. The reassessment has shifted the tax burden from commercial to residential properties, leaving many residents frustrated and struggling to manage the financial strain. Additionally, decades of past mismanagement have left the town with bills that must be paid, limiting options to delay or reduce the tax increases further.
Added 23 days ago
“Bristol, Farmington lament that nearly all tax base growth came from residential – not business – property”
Hartford Courant - 2023-06-23
The article highlights the negative impact of recent property revaluations on residential taxpayers in Bristol and Farmington, Connecticut. Due to skyrocketing home values during the pandemic, the tax burden has shifted significantly from commercial to residential property owners. In Farmington, the average homeowner faces a 9.75% tax increase despite a flat municipal budget and a reduced tax rate, as residential property assessments rose sharply. Similarly, Bristol saw an average 35% increase in home values, creating a heavy financial strain on residential taxpayers. These changes underscore the need for municipalities to expand their commercial tax base to prevent over-reliance on residential property taxes.
Added 23 days ago
“How will Torrington Implement 25% tax hike?"
The Register Citizen - 2025-04-26
Torrington homeowners are facing a potential 25% residential tax hike due to last year's property revaluation, which shifted the tax burden significantly from commercial properties to residential ones. While the mill rate is expected to drop from 47.97 to 32 mills, residential property values have surged by 100% to 120%, compared to only a 30% to 40% increase for commercial properties, leaving homeowners disproportionately affected.
Added 23 days ago
"Torrington homeowners facing historic tax ‘shockwave’ after property revaluation”
CT Insider - 2025-06-10
Torrington homeowners are facing significant tax increases following a property revaluation, with some residents like Richard LaPorte expecting hikes of around $1,500, far exceeding the $200-$400 many anticipated. The city's 2025-26 budget, while flat-funded, includes cuts to public safety, training, and equipment for police and fire departments, raising concerns about sustainability. Public Works and emergency services, the city's most expensive departments, have reduced expenses by leaving vacancies unfilled and cutting training, office furniture, and vehicle purchases, except for a pre-ordered fire truck. Critics, such as Beyus, warn that these reductions compromise essential services and public safety.
Added 23 days ago