Tax Relief

This sounds like a great idea. Whatever could bring tax relief to the people of our city is great. It is being proposed by our State Senator David Cappiello (R-24).

Here is the article from the News-Times:

HARTFORD -- State Sen. David Cappiello, R-Danbury, and other members of the Senate Republican Caucus are looking at ways to reform property tax laws.

"It's really pushing people out of their homes and out of the state of Connecticut," Cappiello said of the state's property tax system during Wednesday's press conference at the Legislative Office Building.

"Is there a better way for the municipalities to collect money instead of the property tax," Cappiello asked. "Every year I have served, we hear the need for property tax relief or property tax reform."

The Republicans propose eliminating the property tax and allowing municipalities to raise taxes in other ways. "The idea is we want to stop driving people out of their homes and out of the state of Connecticut."

"It clearly would benefit the homeowners," Cappiello said of the proposal. "I think this is a fairer way of doing it."

If the property tax is dropped, municipalities could choose a local income tax or a hotel tax, said Cappiello, adding state statutes don't allow municipalities to do that now.

State Sen. Judith Freeman, who represents Bethel, Ridgefield and Redding, among other towns in the 26th district, joined fellow Republicans in calling for property tax reform.

"There is no question that local governments must be able to raise the revenues they need to run their towns. For a very long time now, the method of raising money has been the property tax system. It could be that levying property taxes is no longer the answer," she said.

Cappiello said he wants lawmakers to consider the new ideas, though he is "not chained to" them at this point.

He said the next step will be for the legislature's Planning and Development Committee to look at the proposals.

Danbury's Mayor Mark Boughton said the idea is a good one.

"I think anything we can do to provide more flexibility to cities and towns would definitely be welcomed. This is a serious proposal and it warrants serious consideration," Boughton said.

Other potential ways to raise money, include implementing a sales tax or a hotel tax, he said.

We Will have to wait and see what happens.