Connecticut Could See Property Tax Hikes in Summer

Stephanie Reitz

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Officials in nearly three-quarters of Connecticut municipalities polled in a recent survey said they expect to raise property taxes this summer if they do not receive significantly more state aid, and more than half said they also would be likely to cut programs and lay off workers.

The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, which lobbies lawmakers on behalf of towns and cities, released the survey Wednesday as more than 100 local officials converged on the state Capitol to press legislators to boost aid to municipalities and school districts.

But their plea for more money comes as Connecticut faces up to $1 billion in red ink in the current state budget ending June 30, and as much as $8.7 billion in projected deficits over the next two budget years.

Mayors, selectmen and town managers in Connecticut's 169 municipalities are well into planning their budgets for 2009-2010.

The process culminates with this summer's mailings of new tax bills for homes, businesses and vehicles in a state where unemployment has reached 7.4% and several major employers have warned of more layoffs.

Of 121 communities whose leaders answered the CCM survey, 71% said they will have to raise property taxes under the budget proposed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell.

Almost 79% said they have frozen hiring or plan to do so. More than half said they will lay off workers or cut discretionary programs -- such as library programs, full-day kindergarten and senior center activities.