As I talk to people in Stratford about what is on their minds, two topics always come up—high energy prices and high property taxes. I addressed solutions to energy costs in my last column, and now want to offer solutions to lowering property taxes. While property taxes are more of a local issue (set by the Mayor and Town Council), the actions of the state government have a huge impact. I have been fighting at the state level for laws that will help Stratford local government lower taxes.
State government can help Stratford lower property taxes in three major ways: increasing state aid, promoting economic development, and removing unfunded mandates. Ultimately, Stratford must make trade-offs between taxes, education, and services -but state government can help maximize all three.
Increasing State Aid. Stratford’s bipartisan legislative delegation has been very successful in getting more state aid for Stratford—a 21% increase in the past two years, mostly in education aid. Specifically, we finally eliminated the funding cap that had been placed on Stratford (and other medium size towns) earlier this decade as a cost-saving measure. Stratford is now on its way to receiving its fair share of funding from the state.
The huge increase in state aid is one of the main reasons why property taxes are basically flat this year. While I will continue to fight for more state aid for Stratford, increasing state aid can only do so much because, after all, it is still your tax dollars on the state level. The ultimate solution to reducing property taxes is economic development in Stratford.
Promoting Economic Development. New businesses are the key to keeping property taxes low in Stratford. Businesses relieve the property tax burden on families and provide jobs to help create a vibrant community.
Stratford has the assets to promote economic development. The Army Engine Plant is an obvious candidate for economic development, but not the only one. Lordship Boulevard has a number of businesses on it, but also many empty locations. Main Street has a renaissance of restaurants and shops.
Stratford needs the equivalent of a “Bridgeport Avenue” in Shelton—a corridor of corporate offices and commercial space. Of course, this is no small task and took Shelton two decades to build. But I firmly believe that south Stratford can create a “business triangle” from the Army Engine Plant to Lordship Boulevard to Main Street. This area can become the center for businesses large and small in Stratford. If we can achieve this, you will see Stratford property taxes fall, as they did in Shelton when Bridgeport Avenue started to be developed.
Stratford and state government can partner in a number of ways to promote economic development. For example, Representative John Harkins was successful in getting the Army Engine Plant named as a “special defense enterprise zone” which permits companies locating there to receive special tax benefits. I have proposed expanding this enterprise zone to all of South Stratford. Stratford has been extremely successful in utilizing enterprise zones before (specifically for WalMart and Home Depot which are now fully on the tax rolls).
Additionally, I believe the state can help clean up environmental problems at the Army Engine Plant once a finalized plan is in place. (Currently Hollywood East has won development rights, but is tied up in court and has not finalized a plan). I believe the state can help in two important ways. First, the state can provide loans to clean up the site, which could run into the tens of millions of dollars. Second, our legislative delegation can work within the state bureaucracy to streamline the environmental review process.
Ultimately, Stratford property taxes will not come down until we attract new business to town, and I believe state and local government can work together to make this happen.
Removing Unfunded Mandates. Connecticut imposes numerous expensive mandates on communities, especially with respect to education. The state requires local governments and school boards to spend money on a great many programs, often adding millions of dollars to municipal budgets. I believe we should eliminate “unfunded mandates” and allow each town to decide for itself how to spend its money. Not only would this free up millions of dollars for towns like Stratford to lower property taxes, but would eliminate the “one-size-fits-all” mentality of much of our education policy.
As a State Senator, I ultimately have no control over property taxes. But by working to obtain more state aid, promoting economic development, and eliminating unfunded mandates, I believe I can help Stratford’s local government lower property taxes over the next few years.
Dan Debicella is the State Senator representing Stratford, Shelton, Monroe, and Seymour. If you have feedback for him or want to talk about the issues, he can be reached toll-free at (800) 842-1421 or by e-mail at dan.debicella@cga.ct.gov.
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