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Council Oks Tax Rate Decrease

By JENNA CARLESSO

August 09, 2011

The city's tax rate will drop from 72.29 mills to 71.79 mills, the second decrease since the new fiscal year began July 1.

The city had adopted a $545.9 million budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year that already lowered the tax rate by half a mill. The new adjustment makes the total decrease 1 mill.

A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

The city council voted in favor of the reduction on Monday.

"It's a good step in the right direction," Councilman Corey Brinson said. "Hartford has to be lean to encourage people to live here. We have to continue to find ways to cut and save."

Mayor Pedro Segarra said the city was able to lower the tax rate by using part of an additional $3 million the city is expected to receive under the new state budget.

City tax collector Marc Nelson said adjustments to taxpayer accounts would begin almost immediately.

"If the taxpayer has not yet paid the first [tax] installment, the adjustment will be split equally between the two installments," he said, referring to the July and January tax bills. "If, on the other hand, a taxpayer has already paid the first installment, then the credit will be entirely applied to reduce the second installment."

Despite the reduction in the tax rate, many residents could still see their tax bills go up an average of 3.5 percent because of the phasing in of a state-mandated property revaluation that increases the assessed value of residential properties. That phase-in began in 2006.

The mayor said that about $1.25 million of the $3 million revenue adjustment will also be used to pay for three more city inspectors, a lawyer and two interns to address blighted buildings, and to hire at least eight more employees for the public works department.

The council approved those hirings last month.