East Windsor Board of Selectmen Approves Property Tax Exemption

The East Windsor Board of Selectmen voted unanimously on August 20 to provide property tax relief to qualifying homeowners by exempting 15% of the assessed value of qualifying owner-occupied homes, beginning with the October 1, 2026 Grand List. "From the beginning, this process has been a collaborative effort with Deputy First Selectman Rick LeBorious and key staff in the Assessor's Office, Finance Office, and Tax Collector's Office, who all recognized the need to reduce the property tax burden on homeowners," said First Selectman Jason Bowsza. Bowsza also commends the local business community for its valuable input during the development of the draft resolution.

East Windsor is among the first municipalities in Connecticut to use the state statute CGS § 12-81oo to provide property tax relief. The law allows towns to provide residential property tax exemptions on primary residences after recent five-year revaluations increased home values statewide. "This will provide meaningful tax relief to East Windsor homeowners, while maintaining a strong competitive commercial base," Bowsza said.

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Eligible homeowners are estimated to save an average of between $500 and $1,300, depending on the size of the home and the assessment value. The 15% exemption applies to the assessed value rather than directly reducing a homeowner's tax bill by 15%. The actual savings will vary based on the property's assessment and applicable mill rate."This action is an effort to rebalance residential property taxes," said Deputy First Selectman LeBorious.

Eligible properties include owner-occupied single-family homes, two-family homes, condominiums, and qualifying manufactured homes. The exemption is not automatic. Eligible homeowners must file an application with the Assessor and provide documentation establishing ownership and residency. Applications will be accepted between September 1 and December 15th. Applicants must qualify as East Windsor residents as of October 1, 2026. Homeowners generally will not need to reapply annually. Once approved, the exemption continues unless ownership or residency changes, the homeowner otherwise becomes ineligible, or the Assessor requires updated information. For more information, contact the East Windsor Town Assessor's Office at 860-623-8878 or Helen Totz at Htotz@eastwindsor-ct.gov.

First Selectman Bowsza stressed that the success of the program is predicated on eligible residents applying for the tax exemption. The state law that the program is based on limits the benefit to owner-occupied residential properties, requiring eligibility status to be verified by the Town Assessor's Office.

First Selectman Bowsza noted that while the exemption provides immediate assistance, broader statewide systemic changes are still necessary. "This is a step towards balance, but really, the state's entire property tax system needs to be re-examined," Bowsza added.