Hamden Taxpayers Say Enough is Enough, To Rally At State Capitol

HAMDEN, CT — (Contributed press release): Frustrated Hamden taxpayers will hold a press conference Wednesday, April 25, at 11:30 a.m. in the Hall of Flags at the State Capitol Building and will then gather for a rally for the restoration of Motor Vehicle Tax Cap reimbursement.

Hamden has been shortchanged $2.1M in reimbursements due to a change in local property tax mill rates. This change was enacted during the period in which the statute guaranteeing reimbursement to municipalities was being written into law. Bridgeport and Torrington are the only other communities impacted in this way, owed $7.1M and $1.4M respectively.

“Every other municipality that had a mill rate higher than 37 has been reimbursed by the State for the loss in tax revenue due to the cap in motor vehicle tax,” rally organizer Christina Crowder said in a press release. “Hamden has absorbed shortages in state funding for decades, from ECS funding to PILOT payments. Our town budget is ‘barebones’ - we simply cannot absorb more losses from the state. We are here to stop our elected officials from balancing the state budget on the backs of municipal taxpayers.”

Hamden Mayor Curt Balzano Leng will attend the rally Wednesday and has invited representatives from the other two communities.

“I am in full support of our residents,” Leng said. “Hamden, Torrington, and Bridgeport have three of the top 10 highest mill rates in the state and are all Alliance Districts. We are being forced to cut services, lay off employees and raise taxes. This particular reimbursement unfairly targets three struggling communities.”

State Representative Michael D’Agostino (D-91) will also be in attendance and the group hopes to meet with all members of their state delegation.

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