Happy Fourth of July. Now, Fork It Over!

July is awesome: The Fourth, picnics, fireflies, the beach, backyard BBQs …and taxes.

Okay, not so much on the taxes part. But speaking of the Fourth of July, remember the Colonists weren’t thrilled about taxation without representation and that is what led to our quest for independence. So, not unlike every other municipality, the office of the tax collector has announced that all property owners  (land, buildings, personal) have taxes due and payable. No, not all at once, thank goodness. 

Tax collector Gisela Harma explains: Taxes are payable in full or in two installments – July 2013 and January 2014 – except bills $100 or less which are due in one payment in July. All motor vehicle taxes are payable in full in July. Bills under $5 are waived.

Taxes not paid within one month of due date will be delinquent and subject to 1-1/2% interest per month from the original due date. Minimum interest is $2 per tax bill (12-146 of the General Statutes). Failure to receive a bill does not invalidate the tax or the interest (12-130 of the General Statutes).

The 2013-2014 budget for the Town of Stonington estimates that $2,533,479 will be received from the State of Connecticut for various state financed programs. Without this assistance the mill rate would have been 20.87.

Paying taxes is at once hard and easy in Stonington: hard because, well, ugh, but easy because it can be done online.