Milford Residents To Pay Less In Taxes Again Next Year

MILFORD, CT — Milford residents will be looking at a tax decrease for the fifth-straight year, Mayor Ben Blake announced Thursday.

On Wednesday night, the Board of Aldermen adopted the Mayor’s budget reducing taxes for fiscal year 2020-2021. "Milford’s mill rate, already lower than our neighboring communities, will be reduced even further to 27.68 mills - cutting taxes for all residents and business," Blake said.

Blake said, “we have many residents in our community and across the world who are experiencing economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the City of Milford is rising to the occasion and offering relief.”

"Each year, the City of Milford develops a budget which protects our community’s core values by ensuring our public safety departments operate at optimal levels, our public infrastructure is properly maintained, our social safety network is robust, and our schools are exceptional. At the same time, each department is challenged to hold the line on spending and streamline the approach by which services are delivered – guaranteeing that Milford City Government will be more efficient and productive than ever before," Blake said.

"Milford continues to be the envy of Connecticut, with a tax rate that is fair with excellent services; pristine parks, beaches, and open spaces that enhance quality of life for all; and, a progressive optimism that turns potential problems into possibilities while pushing all to work for a better, stronger, more innovative community. As the City continues along this trajectory, the traditions, heritage, history, and attributes that make Milford the envy of the world remain solid," Blake added.

Here is the full ordinance approved by the Board of Aldermen last night:

WHEREAS: The Board of Finance of the City of Milford has made estimates of the income and the amount of money necessary to appropriate for the expenses of the City of Milford for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021, and has classified such expenses under appropriate headings, departments, and appropriations as more fully appears in the proposed Fiscal Budget submitted to the Board of Aldermen in accordance with Article VI, Section 2 of the Charter of the City of Milford; and,

WHEREAS: The Board of Aldermen, having met and conducted a public hearing, has considered said proposed fiscal budget and has made changes therein pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the Charter of the City of Milford; and,

WHEREAS: The Board of Aldermen, in its deliberation and voting on said budget, has estimated revenues for the 2020-2021 fiscal year in the amount of $217,678,035 and authorized appropriations for the 2020-2021 fiscal year in the amount of $217,678,035.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED AND ENACTED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF MILFORD AS FOLLOWS:

That the proposed Fiscal Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021, as amended by the action of the Board of Aldermen pursuant to law, is hereby adopted and ordered to be filed with the City Clerk.

That taxes for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021, at the rate of 27.68 mills upon the ratable estate within the limits of the City of Milford, are hereby laid and levied to meet the expenses of said budget. Said mill rate is set on the predication that it is estimated that $416,198 of said levy will be granted for Elderly Exemptions (State of Connecticut), $690,036 will be granted for a local tax relief program for the elderly, $375,223 will be granted for a local tax relief program for Veterans and 97.85% of the resulting levy will be collected during the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021.

Said taxes shall be paid on the Grand List of October 1, 2019 and shall be due and payable on July 1, 2020, provided that if the taxes of any person shall exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), the first installment thereof, but not less than one-half of the amount of such taxes shall be due and payable on the first day of July 2020 and the remainder due and payable on the first day of January 2021, but any taxpayer may pay the total amount of the tax for which he or she is liable at the time when the first installment shall become payable. Such tax rate shall apply to all districts of the City of Milford.

TAXES TO BE RAISED $179,424,748

TOTAL APPROPRIATION $217,678,035

TOTAL REVENUE $217,678,035

This Ordinance shall take effect in accordance with the Charter of the City of Milford.