Senator Dan Debicella (R-21) today announced that Stratford will receive unexpected money due to the General Assembly’s adoption of legislation to restore funding to the state’s moderate rental housing PILOT program.

“This is excellent news for Stratford taxpayers,” said Senator Debicella.  “Instead of having local property taxes pay have to cover this expense, we will receive what is rightfully due to Stratford.”

The PILOT program (“Payment In Lieu of Taxes”) is designed to give municipalities payment on non-taxable property that is used for public purposes.  Under this program,  the state pays municipalities and their housing authorities on eligible parcels of land and improvements owned or leased by the housing authorities.  For Stratford’s moderate-income rental housing, the town receives money from the state to make up for local property taxes lost from state ownership of property.
           
Funding for this program was not originally included in the state’s 2008 or 2009 budgets. Senator Debicella joined other members of the Stratford delegate in voting on April 3rd to restore this funding.  Representatives John Harkins (R-120), Terry Backer (R-121), and Larry Miller (R-122) all voted in favor of the increase.

As a result of the legislation, Stratford is due to receive $55,082 under the state’s moderate rental housing PILOT program.

“Housing PILOT is a worthwhile program that helps the needy, while not relying on local property taxes to pay for it,” said Debicella.  “I was disappointed when the General Assembly under-funded it under our current biennial budget. Fortunately, we acted to correct that, and I was happy to have the opportunity for vote to restore the funding,” said Senator Debicella, noting that the program was funded with surplus budget funds from 2007.