Orange's Mill Rate Declines for 5th year!

Town of Orange has Reduced Mill Rates for 5 years Running

By Thomas P. Hurley, Town of Orange Collector of Taxes

With the passing of the latest Town Budget, the latest millage (tax) rate resulted in a 27.4 Millage rate for the Town for this year’s taxes. Orange has now gone 5 years in a row with a reduction in its millage rate. Except for the 2020 Grand List year, Orange has shown a steady decrease in its millage rate back to 2019.

Mill rate by Grand List Year

This year the full assessment rate (70% of Fair Market Value [FMV]) is being used to compute your tax bills. For Real Estate and Personal Property, your Tax amount due July 1 will equal your Assessment (minus any exemptions you may qualify for) X .0274 = Taxes Owed. By motions made and approved at the Annual Town Meeting, any Real Estate or Personal Property bills over $100 may be split into two equal installments. The 1^st half due 1 July 2026 with a grace period until 3 August 2026 and the second installment due 1 January 2027 with a grace period until 1 February 2027. After each of the installment grace periods additional interest payments will accrue on your unpaid due bills back to the original due date. (1.5% per month or any portion thereof. (18% annual))

For Motor Vehicles, the recent change in law by the state will continue to be used. Orange will be using the state specified 85% depreciation schedule. This tax will be calculated by the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price known as the MSRP of your given vehicle when new X .7 (Assessment rate) X (the vehicle’s age depreciation percentage from the depreciation table) X .0274 (the new mill rate) subject to a $500 minimum assessment. Note the condition and mileage of the vehicle is not relevant anymore. The only thing appealable is the MSRP figure and proof of any such change requested will need to be provided (such as the “Window Sticker” off the vehicle when new with the MSRP listed.) Appeals to Motor Vehicle assessments are made in September. Contact the Assessor’s office for details. Interest will still accrue on any unpaid balances after the appeal, so paying the full bill when due is still highly recommended. Refunds, if any, will then be determined based on the Appeal results.

Ater 20 years, more expensive vehicles not reaching the minimum assessment value will be billed based on that 20-year depreciation schedule assessment value for the remainder of the vehicle’s life. One alternative for taxpayers seeking to lower their Motor Vehicle Taxes (after twenty years) is to consider if your vehicle can qualify for Historical (Antique) status. (Additional conditions apply.) Historical vehicles owned by collectors are capped at an assessment of $500 and the taxes owed are calculated by applying the current millage rate times that number. Historical vehicles and qualifications are specifically defined in state law.

Reference the CT Office of Legislative Research, Research Report: 2025-R-0097 for further details.