{"id":11700,"date":"2016-03-19T08:14:51","date_gmt":"2016-03-19T12:14:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.amybergquist.com\/blog\/?page_id=11700"},"modified":"2019-07-22T17:18:45","modified_gmt":"2019-07-22T21:18:45","slug":"hartford-taxes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.amybergquist.com\/blog\/hartford-taxes\/","title":{"rendered":"Hartford Taxes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The City of Hartford has many similarities to other Connecticut Towns in how it calculates property taxes. But it also has some important differences.<\/p>\n

First the similarities. Like many Towns and Cities, taxes are collected twice a year, due January 1st and July 1st. Each “Grand List” year begins on July 1st of the following calendar year, so Grand List 2018 went into effect on July 1, 2019. This also means that tax amounts change at the mid-point of each calendar year rather than the beginning. Most homeowners have their mortgage company escrow their property tax payments, so this calendar cycle usually only comes into play on motor vehicle taxes, which follow the same schedule.<\/p>\n

Despite those similarities, property taxes are calculated differently in the City of Hartford than they are in all other Connecticut towns. Property taxes depend on legislation passed at the State level specifically for the City of Hartford. The primary goal of the special law is to protect homeowners by shifting a portion of the tax burden from residential property to other property classes, mainly the business community.<\/p>\n

Recently, the legislation has been designed to coincide with revaluations. A version was passed in May 2006 in anticipation of Revaluation 2006, and an updated version was passed in June 2011 in anticipation of Revaluation 2011.<\/p>\n

The chart to the right shows the recent tax rate history for the City of Hartford. The two most important numbers in calculating actual taxes are the assessment ratio and the mill rate. Hartford is unique in the State because the assessment ratio is not fixed at 70%, like it is everywhere else.<\/p>\n

Taxes Owed = (Fair Value) x (Assessment Ratio) x (Mill Rate\/1,000)<\/p>\n

Fair Values are updated every 5 years, most recently in October 2016 as part of the 2016 revaluation. Information about assessments and tax bills for City properties is available at the Assessor’s Website<\/a>, the Assessor’s Database<\/a>, and the Payment Website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The most recent bill passed by the State legislature (ahead of Revaluation 2011) protects homeowners without an expiration date. That said, the deal works to phase out the assessment ratio differences between property classes through two separate mechanisms. <\/p>\n

First, the average residential property tax increase as a result of the revaluation will be fixed at 3.5% for the five years. This portion of the legislation continues what has been in place since Grand List 2006, and will likely cause the residential assessment ratio to gradually increase. <\/p>\n

New this time around is a trigger related to the City’s budget and the rate of inflation. The assessment ratio will be directly adjusted depending on whether the budget grows at a faster or slower rate than inflation. <\/p>\n

Please see the actual legislation<\/a> for the specifics.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The history of Hartford’s property tax system is long and complicated. It is too long, and too complicated, to explain in a single article. Below is a periodically updated list of articles that tell the Hartford Property Tax story over time.<\/p>\n

Please send links to other interesting stories on this subject, and we will add them to the page. Thanks!<\/strong><\/p>\n

2015 Articles<\/h5>\n

Hartford Leaders Urge CT to Privatize its City Realty<\/a>
\nNovember 23, 2015: Hartford Business Journal, by Gregory Seay<\/span><\/p>\n

Malloy: ‘I Wouldn’t Want To Be Mayor Of Hartford’<\/a>
\nNovember 15, 2015: Hartford Courant, by Christopher Keating<\/span><\/p>\n

The Fiscal 2016 Budget<\/a>
\nJuly 28, 2015: Hartford Citizen, by Kyle Bergquist<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Approves $533.8M Budget That Keeps Tax Rate Flat<\/a>
\nMay 27, 2015: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Council Shuffles Money In Budget, Expects To Adopt Plan Next Week<\/a>
\nMay 20, 2015: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Deal Reached Allowing City To Dip Into Hartford Schools Account<\/a>
\nMay 19, 2015: Hartford Courant, by Vanessa de la Torre and Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford School Board Cancels Budget Vote In Funding Dispute<\/a>
\nMay 14, 2015: Hartford Courant, by Vanessa de la Torre and Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Mayor, School Officials Work To Resolve Funds Dispute<\/a>
\nApril 22, 2015: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford BOE Chairman, Mayor Battle Over Trust Fund Money<\/a>
\nApril 21, 2015: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso and Steven Goode<\/span><\/p>\n

Overlapping Budgets<\/a>
\nApril 20, 2015: Hartford Citizen, by Kyle Bergquist<\/span><\/p>\n

Segarra’s $534M Budget: No Layoffs, No Tax Increase<\/a>
\nApril 19, 2015: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso and Steven Goode<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Can’t Borrow Its Way to a Balanced Budget<\/a>
\nFebruary 17, 2015: Hartford Citizen, by Kyle Bergquist<\/span><\/p>\n

Fixing Hartford’s Tax Problem<\/a>
\nJanuary 19, 2015: Hartford Business Journal, by Dave Panagore<\/span><\/p>\n

2014 Articles<\/h5>\n

Hartford Adopts Budget With No Tax Hike<\/a>
\nMay 27, 2014: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Segarra Reaches Budget Deal With Council; Pledges Financial Restructuring<\/a>
\nMay 21, 2014: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Council Cuts Budget By $6.4M, Eliminates Tax Hike<\/a>
\nMay 20, 2014: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Needs A Budget Shakeup<\/a>
\nMay 19, 2014: Hartford Courant, Editorial<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford, Suburbs Can’t Each Go It Alone<\/a>
\nMay 19, 2014: Hartford Courant, Commentary by Lyle Wray<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Council Says It Will Cut Mayor’s Budget By $8M<\/a>
\nMay 15, 2014: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Evaluation Of Hartford Parking Properties Falls Short Of Value In Mayor’s Budget<\/a>
\nMay 14, 2014: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford School Board Adopts $423M Budget<\/a>
\nMay 6, 2014: Hartford Courant, by Vanessa De La Torre<\/span><\/p>\n

Segarra Trims Tax Hike, Restores Police Officers To Budget<\/a>
\nMay 5, 2014: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Proposed Tax Hike Worries Hartford Residents At Hearing<\/a>
\nApril 30, 2014: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Nonprofits Should Pony Up<\/a>
\nApril 29, 2014: Hartford Courant, Letter to the Editor by Patricia Cohen<\/span><\/p>\n

Mayor, Councilman Trade Barbs In Emails<\/a>
\nApril 22, 2014: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Segarra’s Budget Includes Job Eliminations, Tax Hike And $18 Million In Cuts<\/a>
\nApril 22, 2014: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford eyes new property tax fix<\/a>
\nJanuary 29, 2014: Hartford Business Journal, by Greg Bordonaro<\/span><\/p>\n

2013 Articles<\/h5>\n

Time to grow Hartford’s grand list<\/a>
\nOctober 7, 2013: Hartford Business Journal, Commentary by Oz Griebel and Julio Concepcion<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Council, Mayor Compromise On Budget; Pass $538M Spending Plan By Deadline<\/a>
\nMay 31, 2013: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Lawyer Hired By Hartford Council Says Mayor Can’t Reject Their Budget Cuts<\/a>
\nMay 30, 2013: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Council Postpones Budget Vote; Hires Attorney To Clarify Mayor’s Budgetary Power<\/a>
\nMay 28, 2013: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Mayor Rejects Council’s Budget Cuts<\/a>
\nMay 23, 2013: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Segarra Warns Council Before Budget Cuts<\/a>
\nMay 21, 2013: Hartford Courant CityLine Blog, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Council Cuts $8.6 Million From Segarra’s Proposed Budget<\/a>
\nMay 20, 2013: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Council Delays Budget-Cutting Session<\/a>
\nMay 15, 2013: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

The Hartford Budget Takes Aim, But Misses the Biggest Targets<\/a>
\nApril 24, 2013: Raising Hale Blog, by Zach Albert<\/span><\/p>\n

Hearing On Hartford Mayor’s Proposed Budget Is Wednesday<\/a>
\nApril 18, 2013: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Segarra pitches $543M Hartford budget, no tax hikes<\/a>
\nApril 15, 2013: Hartford Business Journal, Editorial<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Must Stop Financial Foolishness<\/a>
\nApril 12, 2013: Hartford Courant, Editorial<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Projects Huge Budget Deficits For Years To Come<\/a>
\nMarch 4, 2013: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Mayor, Facing Big Deficit, Asks Department Heads For 3 Different Budgets<\/a>
\nFebruary 25, 2013: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Mayor Says Hartford Facing Budget Deficits This Year And Next<\/a>
\nFebruary 21, 2013: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

2012 Articles<\/h5>\n

City Council Amends Mayor’s Proposed Budget<\/a>
\nMay 18, 2012: Hartford Courant, by Steven Goode<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Mayor Proposes Budget Mitigation Plan<\/a>
\nMay 15, 2012: Hartford Courant, by Steven Goode<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Looks To Spending Cuts To Close $8 Million Hole<\/a>
\nMay 10, 2012: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Who Is To Blame For Hartford’s $8 Million Hole?<\/a>
\nMay 10, 2012: WNPR, by Jeff Cohen<\/span><\/p>\n

A Much Greater Problem For Hartford<\/a>
\nMay 10, 2012: We The People, by Kevin Brookman<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Mayor Proposes $546.6 Million Budget<\/a>
\nApril 16, 2012: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Many Commercial Property Owners In City Appealing Last Year’s Revaluation<\/a>
\nApril 13, 2012: Hartford Courant, by Kenneth R. Gosselin<\/span><\/p>\n

Budget Trends in the City of Hartford<\/a>
\nApril 12, 2012: Greater Hartford Real Estate Blog, by Kyle Bergquist<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Council Considers Ways To Close $56M Projected Deficit<\/a>
\nMarch 28, 2012: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Budget Shortfall Will Mean Tax Hike, Layoffs<\/a>
\nMarch 18, 2012: Hartford Courant, Commentary by Mike McGarry<\/span><\/p>\n

City’s Budget Shortfall Expected To Grow To $54M In 2012-13<\/a>
\nFebruary 8, 2012: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

2011 Articles<\/h5>\n

For Hartford’s Commercial Landlords, A Long Awaited Tax Break In 2012<\/a>
\nDecember 3, 2011: Hartford Courant, by Kenneth R. Gosselin<\/span><\/p>\n

Mayor Announces Good News for Hartford Taxpayers<\/a>
\nJuly 6, 2011: City of Hartford, Office of Mayor Pedro E. Segarra<\/span><\/p>\n

Mayor Applauds Commitment to Tax Bill<\/a>
\nJune 9, 2011: City of Hartford, Office of Mayor Pedro E. Segarra<\/span><\/p>\n

Connecticut State Legislature, File 903<\/a>
\nJune 4, 2011: Connecticut Legislature<\/span><\/p>\n

Legislators Pass Hartford Property Tax Remedy | yourpublicmedia.org<\/a>
\nJune 3, 2011: WNPR, by Jeff Cohen<\/span><\/p>\n

Bill Limiting Assessment Rate Increases in Hartford Clears State House Of Representatives – Courant.com<\/a>
\nJune 3, 2011: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Property taxes dividing Hartford residents, business | Hartford Business<\/a>
\nMay 9, 2011: Hartford Business Journal, by Greg Bordonaro<\/span><\/p>\n

Downtown discount | Hartford Business<\/a>
\nFebruary 7, 2011: Hartford Business Journal, by Greg Bordonaro<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford’s Grand List: Hartford’s Grand List Grows By 4 Percent – Courant.com<\/a>
\nFebruary 3, 2011: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

2010 Articles<\/h5>\n

City of Hartford Grand List 2006 Revaluation Description<\/a>
\nJune 30, 2010: Hartford Assessor’s Office, Updated for Grand List 2009 (July 2010 Tax Bills)<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Council Holds Line On Taxes – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 24, 2010: Hartford Courant, Editorial<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Adopts No-Tax Increase Budget – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 24, 2010: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Business Owners Worry About Rising Taxes – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 7, 2010: Hartford Courant, by Jenna Carlesso<\/span><\/p>\n

2009 Articles<\/h5>\n

City Considers New Property Tax Option – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 28, 2009: Hartford Courant, CityLine Blog, by Jeffrey B. Cohen<\/span><\/p>\n

Expect Five or Six Mills – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 28, 2009: The Hartford News, by Mike McGarry<\/span><\/p>\n

Tax Hell: The city aims to get more revenue from local businesses and homeowners alike – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 5, 2009: Hartford Advocate, by Daniel D’Ambrosio<\/span><\/p>\n

When Do We Hit 100 mils? – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nApril 30, 2009: The Hartford News, by Mike McGarry<\/span><\/p>\n

Climb Every Mountain: Hartford’s Budget Challenge, Part III: A Complicated Picture Video – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMarch 11, 2009: Hartford 2000 Community Meeting Recording<\/span><\/p>\n

Climb Every Mountain: Hartford’s Budget Challenge, Part II: The Local Picture Video – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nFebruary 26, 2009: Hartford 2000 Community Meeting Recording<\/span><\/p>\n

Climb Every Mountain: Hartford’s Budget Challenge, Part I: The Big Picture Video – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nFebruary 4, 2009: Hartford 2000 Community Meeting Recording<\/span><\/p>\n

2008 Articles<\/h5>\n

Thank you, City Council – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 22, 2008: The Hartford News, by Mike McGarry<\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes up, Services down – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 8, 2008: The Hartford news, by Mike McGarry<\/span><\/p>\n

Tax Burden Crushing Life Out Of City Businesses – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 7, 2008: Hartford Courant, Commentary by Mike McGarry<\/span><\/p>\n

Property Tax Dilemma: What’s the Next Move? Video – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMarch 5, 2008: Hartford 2000<\/span><\/p>\n

Tax Increase Cap Will Remain – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nFebruary 26, 2008: Hartford Courant, by Daniel E. Goren<\/span><\/p>\n

Time Is Now For Property Tax Reform – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nFebruary 25, 2008: Hartford Business Journal, Commentary by Oz Griebel<\/span><\/p>\n

Tax-Cap Matter Vexes Council – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nFebruary 16, 2008: Hartford Courant, by Jeffrey B. Cohen<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t Burden Tenants With Tax Hike – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nJanuary 27, 2008: Hartford Courant, Commentary by Timothy J. Sullivan<\/span><\/p>\n

2007 Articles<\/h5>\n

The Wareing Letter<\/a>
\nDecember 31, 2007: Property Tax Reform Task Force, by Richard F. Wareing<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford Small Business Alliance Tax: Relief Presentation<\/a>
\n???: Hartford Small Business Alliance, by Michael D. O’Connell and Gregory W. Piecuch<\/span><\/p>\n

Property Tax Plan Sparks Debate – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nDecember 22, 2007: Hartford Courant, by Daniel E. Goren<\/span><\/p>\n

Tax Revolt – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nDecember 20, 2007: Hartford Advocate, by Daniel D’Ambrosio<\/span><\/p>\n

On City Taxes, Now it is War – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nJune 21, 2007: Hartford Advocate, by Daniel D’Ambrosio<\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes May Be Phased In – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nJune 9, 2007: Hartford Courant, by Daniel E. Goren<\/span><\/p>\n

City Looks For New Way To Ease Revaluation Pain – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nJune 8, 2007: Hartford Courant, by Jeffrey B. Cohen<\/span><\/p>\n

City Merchants Close Ranks Against Tax Hike – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nJune 6-13, 2007: The Hartford News, by Andy Hart<\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes Gone Wild – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nJune 7, 2007: Hartford Advocate, by Daniel D’Ambrosio<\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes Too Onerous To Bear – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nJune 1, 2007: Hartford Courant, by Rick Green<\/span><\/p>\n

Small City Shops Facing 62% Tax Hikes – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 21, 2007: Hartford Business Journal, by Diane Weaver Dunne<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford 2000 Property Tax Workshop Presentation – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nFebruary 22, 2007: Hartford 2000<\/span><\/p>\n

Hartford 2000 Property Tax Brief – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nFebruary 22, 2007: Hartford 2000<\/span><\/p>\n

The Tax Shuffle – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nJanuary 11, 2007: Hartford Advocate, by Meir Rinde<\/span><\/p>\n

2006 Articles<\/h5>\n

Reduce Property Tax Burden – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nDecember 21, 2006: Hartford Courant, Commentary by Mayor Eddie A. Perez<\/span><\/p>\n

What Do We Need And … How Do We Get It? – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nDecember 13-20, 2006: The Hartford News, by Mike McGarry<\/span><\/p>\n

Tax Plan Slows The Inevitable – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 15, 2006: Hartford Courant, Editorial<\/span><\/p>\n

A Winner And Still A Blowhard – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 7, 2006: Hartford Courant, by Helen Ubinas<\/span><\/p>\n

Legislature Passes Tax Relief For City, But Mayor’s Comments Stung – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMay 4, 2006: Hartford Courant, by Jeffrey B. Cohen<\/span><\/p>\n

Property Tax Challenges for the City of Hartford: Presentation<\/a>
\nMarch 28, 2006: Presentation to City Council, by ???<\/span><\/p>\n

Playing Property Tax Reform Game – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMarch 28, 2006: Hartford Courant, Commentary by David Medina<\/span><\/p>\n

Shock And Awe From Hizzoner – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMarch 17, 2006: Hartford Courant, Editorial<\/span><\/p>\n

Perez Tax Plan Bucks Norm – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMarch 16, 2006: Hartford Courant, by Jeffrey B. Cohen<\/span><\/p>\n

What If City Taxed Land More, And Buildings Less? – HartfordInfo.org<\/a>
\nMarch 12, 2006: Hartford Courant, Commentary by Wyn Achenbaum<\/span><\/p>\n

A Proposed Bill Concerning Options to Abate Property Taxes and the Surcharge on Corporations<\/a>
\nFebruary 2006: Connecticut General Assembly Bill #531<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The City of Hartford has many similarities to other Connecticut Towns in how it calculates property taxes. But it also has some important differences. First the similarities. Like many Towns and Cities, taxes are collected twice a year, due January 1st and July 1st. Each “Grand List” year begins on July 1st of the following calendar year, so Grand List 2018 went into effect on July 1, 2019. This also means that tax amounts change<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11700","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amybergquist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11700","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amybergquist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amybergquist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amybergquist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.amybergquist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11700"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.amybergquist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11700\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13457,"href":"https:\/\/www.amybergquist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11700\/revisions\/13457"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.amybergquist.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}