Property Taxes – Troubling Economics

Property taxes are a sensitive subject in Greater Hartford. Just about every year there is a budget referendum in at least one local town as angry residents fight yet another property tax increase. The debate in some towns is more heated than in others (but we won’t mention any names). You may be happy to know that rising property taxes are a hot topic in other cities and states as well. An editorial in this

Potential Property Tax Increases in West Hartford

Tax revenue funds the services that cities and towns provide to their citizens. I think we all get that. Earlier this week, the Courant reported on West Hartford’s town budget proposal. The initial budget proposal is up 7% from the 2007-2008 budget, to $216 million. Click here for the proposed budget. Click here for the Town Manager’s presentation of the proposed budget. A portion of the article addressed the property tax increases that West Hartford

Will West Hartford's Property Tax Phase-In End?

There have been rumblings around the West Hartford community recently that the 5-year phase-in for property taxes may be phased-out for the 2008-2009 budget year. Two weeks ago I called the town’s Assessor’s office about this, but they claimed they had no indication that the 5 year phase-in would end. Well, today the Hartford Courant published an article about the possibility that West Hartford would end the phase-in, accelerating the tax increase, which would presumably

How Do I Calculate My West Hartford Property Taxes?

Now that the West Hartford budget has been amended and the mill rate has been set at 38.63, many are wondering how they will calculate their property taxes. One thing to keep in mind is that they will be based on a 5 year phase in if your assessment from 2005 to 2006 increased by more than 25%. Let’s do a quick example and hopefully this will help… Let’s say your 2005 property assessment was