Get Ready To Pay Farmington, Tax Rate Now Finalized

FARMINGTON, CT — With a spending plan for town and school operations approved late last month, the Farmington Town Council recently finalized how much of the budget will be financed.

The council unanimously voted last week to set a new mill rate for the 2023-24 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

As part of that approved motion, the town council also set the solid waste service charge for this year, which will remain $268 for trash collection.

The May 9 approval means the new mill rate is officially 24.21 and it will be applied to a recently revalued grand list of taxable property that is close to $4.5 billion in value.

First-installment tax bills are due July 1, with second-installment bills going due Jan. 1, 2024 (with a grace period allowed before penalties are assessed.)

And for many taxpayers, if not most of them, those bills could come with some serious sticker shock — to the tune of an average $650 more in taxes this year compared to last year.

The recently completed property revaluation will result in a proposed mill rate smaller than the current one, 5.11 mills smaller to a proposed rate of 24.21.

Farmington Town Council Chairman C.J. Thomas remarked about how low that mill rate appeared to be.

"24.21, that seems pretty low. Are there any local towns that are lower?" said Thomas rhetorically at the last council meeting.

In reality, this smaller mill rate doesn't mean taxes will get smaller.

This is because, while the rate of taxes is shrinking by 17.43 percent, the average residential assessments have increased by about 33 percent, according to the town.

It has prompted a general shift in the tax burden from commercial to residential property owners, according to town officials.

Local officials said taxes, on average, will go up by $648.09 for the average homeowner.

For this individual homeowner, 2023 taxes would be $7,298.13. A year ago, they were $6,650.04, according to the Town of Farmington.

Farmington voters said "yes" April 27 to a combined town/school budget of $121.266 million for 2023-24, an overall spending plan that is the same as the current budget.

The vote on this was 1,404 "yes" votes and 484 "no" votes.

From May 2: 'Farmington Says 'Yes,' OKs Budget/Town Hall Project"

For the minutes of the May 9 Farmington Town Council meeting, click on this link.