Talking About Tolls

We were in Norway this summer, where oil money provides most citizens with a very good quality of life.  In an effort to be responsible with the windfall, the Norwegian government is trying to make sure that infrastructure investments are replenished.  Hence, they have heavy tolls on their roads, which are very controversial.  One of the citizens I met was surprised that this was a big issue where I came from as well!

And it certainly is.  Governor Lamont has been trying all year to get the Connecticut Legislature to adopt some version of tolls.  We have lots of bridges and highways that need repair, and most neighboring states have tolls already.  Yet businesses and taxpayers seem up in arms about tolls, even though (or perhaps because) we pay among the highest gas and cigarette taxes in the country, not to mention our steep income, sales, and corporate taxes.  Is the addition of tolls just a bridge too far (pun intended--I couldn't resist)?

One of the strongest and most surprising opponents has been the Connecticut Business and Industry Association.  Thirty years ago, it weighed in on the side of an income tax, but this time it raised its voice against tolls.  The argument, which isn't crazy, is that CBIA doesn't trust the Legislature to restrict the spending from tolls to transportation infrastructure.  Since they've learned to raid the general fund and get around the spending cap, this is a reasonable fear.  Yet it's a little like saying that you won't give a kid lunch money, because you don't think he'll spend it on lunch, but being unhappy that he didn't get to eat.  Unless you don't believe that we need to spend money on roads, bridges, rail, and airports--and there is pretty unanimous agreement on that--you must believe that the money will come from somewhere. Why not have it come from a related use, and one that taxes all the free riders (again, couldn't resist that pun!) that come through the state?  We are paying in other states, yet not taxing those who drive on our roads.

Another argument against tolls is that people will pay to get to work.  That's almost as bad as the argument that putting up tollbooths (which doesn't happen anymore) is too expensive.  Commuters can get tax credits, or their employers can get tax credits for reimbursing employees who pay.  Or we could have tolls only at non-commuting times, or only in some directions, as the Mass Pike did.  The point is that those are all reasons that can be nullified with a little creativity.

Are people here just feeling overtaxed?  That's certainly a feeling many of us share, and worry about, since workers and business owners are leaving the State.  But might they not prosper more if getting around were easier?  And wouldn't those inside the State have an advantage over those driving in from further distances with products?  Nothing is entirely clear, but I for one am willing to give tolls a try.

Back to School Bump

August is traditionally a time for lazing around, during the hottest part of the year.  September is another story.  Once kids and teachers go back to school, and the weather changes, people start doing what they put off while the weather was warm.  One activity that reactivates is house hunting.  Regular schedules lead to more predictable weekends, and that leads to open houses.  Buyers often want to conclude sales during the calendar year, for tax reasons or just because the end of the year makes a good deadline for getting it done.

This is especially true in our region, where universities are so dominant, with long summer breaks when many leave town.  In addition, we have great private schools in the region, meaning that families can move without changing schools.  Sellers are also more motivated, and there are some great transactions for buyers willing to move quickly, and close before heating season starts.

If you have hopes of beginning 2020 in a new home, this is the time to get serious, as a seller or as a buyer.  Activity will see a bump beginning next week, and a shorter season much like the spring market will commence. Don't delay!

Connecticut Property Taxes In Every Town: Who Pays The Most? (Article is from patch.com)

By Rich Scinto, CT Patch Staff Click here to read on PATCH.COM

Everyone knows that Connecticut's real estate taxes are among the highest in the nation, but how much you pay can vary widely depending on where you live.  Real estate taxes are the primary revenue source for Connecticut's towns and cities.

One mill is equal to one dollar of tax per $1,000 of assessed property value. In Connecticut municipalities assess property at 70 percent of its fair market value, according to the Office of Legislative Research. Property is revalued at least once every five years.

Wealthy communities like Darien can have a lower mill rate due to higher property values. The median value of owner-occupied housing units in the town was $1.24 million between 2012 and 2016, according to the U.S. Census.

Towns can also keep the mill rate down by cutting expenses or growing the grand list.

Here are the municipalities with the highest mill rates:

1. Hartford 74.29
2. Waterbury 60.21
3. Bridgeport 54.37
4. New Britain 50.50
5. Windham, Special Service Dist. #2 48.74
6. Norwich, City of (Paid Fire) (CCD) 48.39
7. Naugatuck 48.35
8. Hamden 47.96
9. East Hartford 47.66
10. Torrington 46.17

Below are the fiscal year 2019 mill rates according to the state Office of Policy Management. Some municipalities have separate fire and other taxes. Motor vehicle taxes are the same as the regular rate unless otherwise noted.:

Municipality	Mill Rate	Motor Vehicle Mill Rate
Hartford	74.29	45.00
Waterbury	60.21	45.00
Bridgeport	54.37	45.00
New Britain	50.50	45.00
Windham, Special Service Dist. #2	48.74
Norwich, City of (Paid Fire) (CCD)	48.39	45.00
Naugatuck	48.35	45.00
Hamden	47.96	45.00
East Hartford	47.66	45.00
Torrington	46.17	45.00
Middletown + City Fire	43.70
New London	43.17
New Haven	42.98
Norwich City (Vol Fire)(Town)(TCD)	41.46
Meriden	41.04
Norwich	41.01
West Hartford	41.00
Wethersfield	40.78
Stratford	39.90
Woodbridge	39.83
Plymouth	39.69
Vernon	39.63
Scotland	39.43	32.75
Derby	39.37
Bolton	39.00
Granby	38.69
Windham 1st Taxing District	38.55
Newington	38.50
South Windsor	37.67
Simsbury + Fire District	37.59
Bloomfield	37.52
Hebron	37.44
Ansonia	37.32
Bethany	36.90
Bristol	36.88
Marlborough	36.52
Durham	36.50
Simsbury	36.42
West Haven	36.26	37.00
Glastonbury	36.00
Seymour	36.00
Beacon Falls	35.90
Manchester (Town)	35.81
Manchester Eighth District Base	35.81
Thomaston	35.79
Monroe	35.24
Tolland	35.00
Middletown	34.80
Ashford	34.767
Middlefield	34.49
Ledyard	34.29
Stafford	34.26
Newtown	34.24
Trumbull	34.02
Andover	33.95
East Windsor	33.90
Plainville	33.84
Portland	33.81
Watertown	33.59
Winchester	33.54
Enfield	33.40
North Branford	33.39
Sprague	33.25
East Granby	33.00
Windsor	32.96
Bethel	32.87	32.00
Cheshire	32.62
Middlebury	32.51
Berlin	32.50
Burlington	32.50
Chaplin	32.50
East Haven	32.45
Rocky Hill	32.40
Colchester	32.28
Coventry	32.20
Salem	32.20
Wolcott	32.20
Orange	32.00
Sterling	31.94
Montville	31.73
Redding	31.72
Ellington	31.70
Haddam	31.69
Easton	31.38
Avon	31.35
East Hampton	31.32
Guilford	31.28
North Haven	31.18
Union	31.10
Prospect	31.00
Colebrook	30.90
Mansfield	30.88
Canton	30.70
New Hartford	30.624
New Fairfield	30.58
Clinton	30.54
Southington	30.48
Cromwell	30.33
Willington	30.09
Barkhamsted	29.86
East Haddam	29.66
North Canaan + Fire District	29.60
Deep River	29.42
Lebanon	29.40
Weston	29.39
Columbia	29.33
Suffield	29.32
Southbury	29.00
Voluntown	28.92
Branford	28.64
Wallingford	28.64
Hampton	28.50
Brookfield	28.34
North Stonington	28.20
Wilton	28.1875
New Milford	28.17
Brooklyn	28.09
Madison	28.04
Harwinton	28.00
Plainfield	27.96
Griswold	27.95
Ridgefield	27.78
Killingly	27.76
Thompson	27.75
Milford	27.74
Litchfield	27.70
Danbury	27.60
Bozrah	27.50
North Canaan	27.50
Killingworth	27.47
Waterford	27.42
Somers	27.37
East Lyme	27.35
Farmington	27.18
Chester	27.11
Pomfret + Fire District	26.90
Norwalk 4th - Sewered Main Area	26.662
Windsor Locks	26.66
Norwalk 1st - Downtown	26.605
Norwalk 2nd - South	26.605
Norwalk 3rd - East	26.605
Woodbury	26.58
Morris	26.57
Hartland	26.50
Fairfield	26.36
Canterbury	26.20
Eastford	26.11
Preston	26.03
Norwalk 5th - No Garbage Main Area	25.930
Norwalk 4th No Garbage	25.930
Pomfret	25.90
Norwalk 1st No Garbage	25.873
Norwalk 2nd No Garbage	25.873
Norwalk 3rd No Garbage	25.873
Franklin	25.72
Stamford "A"	25.53
Stamford Pprop Other than MV	25.53
Stamford "B"	25.08
Stamford "CS"	24.82
Woodstock	24.50
Stamford "C"	24.45
Westbrook	24.37
Groton, Town of	24.17
Bethlehem	24.15
Canaan	23.90
Norfolk	23.57
Oxford	23.05
Stonington	22.68
Lisbon	22.50
Shelton	22.15
Old Lyme	21.91
Essex	21.85
Norwalk 6th - Rowayton	21.194
Putnam	20.84
Sherman	20.33
Goshen	19.60
Old Saybrook	19.60
Kent	18.61
Lyme	18.60
Bridgewater	17.20
New Canaan	16.96
Westport	16.86
Cornwall	16.62
Darien	16.08
Roxbury	15.85
Sharon	14.70
Warren	14.25
Washington	14.25
West Haven, Allingtown (Third) only	13.06	8.00
West Haven, First Center only	11.99	8.00
Greenwich	11.369
Salisbury	11.30
West Haven, West Shore (2d) only	10.129	8.00
Putnam - Special Service Dist.	9.60
Middletown, City Fire	8.90
Enfield Thompsonville FD #2	6.73
Manchester - Special	6.06
Groton, Poquonock Bridge Fire	5.97
Manchester South Manchester Fire District	5.10
Middletown, South Fire	4.983
Borough of Danielson	4.95
Manchester 8th Fire + Sewer	4.80
Groton, City of Groton	4.58
Groton, W. Pleasant Valley Fire	4.48
Goshen - Woodridge Lake Sewer District	4.30
Woodstock - Lake Bunggee Tax Dist.	4.24
New Britain - Downtown	3.80
Groton, Long Point Assoc.	3.71
Enfield Fire District #1	3.60
Groton - Center Fire	3.50
Borough of Fenwick (Old Saybrook)	3.4398
Killingly Attawaugan FD	3.22
Enfield, No. Thompsonville Fire Dist. #4	3.15
Borough of Jewett City (Griswold)	3.09
Bridgeport Downtown Special Service District	3.00
Enfield Shaker Pines Fire Dist #5	3.00
Windsor, Wilson Fire District	3.00
Plainfield Central Village F.D.	2.95
Groton, Old Mystic Fire	2.90
Stonington Old Mystic FD #366	2.90
Borough of Stonington #372	2.90
Enfield, Hazardville Fire Dist.#3	2.87
Bloomfield, Blue Hills FD	2.50
Cromwell Fire District	2.50
New Haven + Chapel West	2.50
Killingly Williamsville FD	2.45
New Hartford Pine Meadow #3	2.44
Killingly So. Killingly FD	2.40
Stonington Latimer Point	2.31
Stonington Lords Point Assoc.	2.29
Stafford, Special Service District	2.28
Groton, Mystic Fire	2.24
Morris - Deer Island Assoc.	2.24
North Canaan Fire District	2.10
Plainfield Moosup FD	2.10
Killingly E. Killiingly FD	2.00
Sterling, Fire District	2.00
Windsor, Windsor Fire District	2.00
Borough of Litchfield	2.00
New Haven+Town Green (FKA Downtown)	1.99
New Haven + Whalley Ave. WASS	1.97
Killingly Dayville FD	1.90
Putnam East Putnam District	1.80
Stonington Mystic FD #239	1.76
Brooklyn - East Brooklyn FD	1.75
Weston - Georgetown FD	1.7295
Berlin -Worthington FD	1.70
New Hartford Village FD #1	1.70
Barkhamsted Fire District	1.66
Redding Georgetown FD	1.6556
Stonington Mason's Island	1.63
Wilton - Georgetown FD	1.5885
Middletown, Westfield Fire	1.545
Borough of Bantam (Litchfield)	1.50
East Windsor - Warehouse Point FD	1.40
New London - City Center District	1.40
Groton, Noank Fire	1.39
New Haven + Grand Ave GAVA	1.25
Simsbury - Fire District	1.17
Stonington Quiambaug FD #378	1.15
Trumbull Nichols FD	1.15
Berlin - Kensington FD	1.10
Bloomfield, Center FD	1.10
Old Saybrook - Knollwood Beach Assoc.	1.00
Pomfret Fire District	1.00
Putnam West Putnam District	1.00
Borough of Newtown	0.95
Redding Fire District 1	0.84769
Trumbull Long Hill FD	0.846
Stonington Wequetequock FD #379	0.83
Stonington FD #265	0.65
New Canaan Sewer	0.648
Killingly District 5 Orient Heights	0.63
Killingly Dyer Manor	0.50
Stonington Wamphassuk Point Assoc. - Fire District	0.484
Greenwich - Sewer District	0.463
Groton, Mumford Cove	0.34
Groton Sewer District	0.27
Greenwich - Sewer Improvement	0.039
Stonington Pawcatuck FD #264	0.00158
Norwalk Motor Vehicle Rate		30.499
Stamford Motor Vehicles		27.25