Simsbury Aims To Cut Skyrocketing Tax Hike

Town of Simsbury

SIMSBURY, CT — With Simsbury taxpayers facing a 2-plus mill tax increase this year due to budgetary challenges, local officials continue to seek public feedback and aim to cut spending.

As a result, the Simsbury Board of Finance will continue deliberations and review of the proposed 2024-25 town/school budgets after having an initial public hearing on April 3.

That hearing will continue on Tuesday, April 16, at 5:45 p.m. at the Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St.

There, the public is invited to comment on any aspect of the board of selectmen, board
of education or capital budgets, with town officials looking to slash proposed tax increases.

Local taxpayers have extra incentive to monitor the towns' spending plans, with many facing a large hike in their taxes this summer.

According to town officials, the average property owner with a median home value of $390,800 would see an approximate annual tax increase of $566 as the mill rate increases from 31.82 to 33.89.

This includes the fire district mill rate as well.

Those interested in the budgets can review them online at the following link: www.simsbury-ct.gov/budget.

If residents cannot attend, comments may be submitted in advance to: townclerk@simsbury-ct.gov.

The town and school board have proposed budgets increasing total spending by $5.5 million which would need to be funded by a mill rate of 33.89 (including the fire district).

This represents a 6.51 percent tax increase, town officials said.

The town’s budget would increase by 2.93 percent and the education budget would increase 4.41 percent.

According to local leaders, driving the increases are inflationary pressures, rising special education costs and contractual obligations (union-negotiated pay increases, etc.)

In addition to rising costs of operations, the town must also account for a decrease of
approximately $1.5 million in motor vehicle tax reimbursement from the state of Connecticut next
year, and for Grand List growth of only 0.06 percent, Simsbury officials wrote.

Simsbury Board of Finance members, officials said, aim to reduce the projected property tax increase from 6.51 percent to about 5 percent.

After final approval by the board of finance, the budget will go to referendum in May.

“We face the same pressures as other communities, of course, but against the backdrop of flat grand list growth, and a decrease in state dollars, we were challenged to make some tough decisions," Simsbury Town Manager Marc Nelson said in a statement.

"I want to thank the Board of Selectmen for their work to reduce expenditures on the town side by more than $700,000, the board of education for their work in identifying over $1.9 million in reductions and reallocations, and the board of finance for its early and continued guidance throughout this year’s budget cycle.”

Simsbury Board of Finance Chairperson Lisa Heavner said funding municipal needs and addressing increasing taxpayer burdens is difficult.

“Collectively, we try to fund our community’s priorities while keeping the mill rate as low as we can. We encourage and welcome the public’s input as we finalize the town’s spending plans,” she said.

Simsbury First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis said small grand list growth can increase taxpayer burdens in a given budget year, with voter participation critical.

“The board of selectmen has done its best to keep Simsbury affordable by balancing the needs of the community and the cost of running a municipal government," Mackstutis said. "Without grand list growth, and without new revenue sources, we are facing another tax increase this year after last year’s reval increase. It’s up to our taxpayers to speak up and vote on the decisions we have made.”

For more information on the Town of Simsbury's budgets, click on this link.