Deadline Announced To Schedule Informal Property Assessment Hearings In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — With the state-mandated property revaluation recently completed in Fairfield, residents have until Jan. 9 to schedule an informal assessment hearing, "if you do not feel your assessment is correct," Ross Murray, Fairfield's Tax Assessor, announced.

The hearings are with representatives of Tyler Technologies, the outside firm that conducted the revaluation on the town's behalf.

Appeals of valuations can be filed in February with the Board of Assessment Appeals, whether an informal assessment hearing was held or not.

Property revaluations are conducted in Connecticut every five years, and in Fairfield as in other communities, residential properties are experiencing a significant increase in value.

"What we are seeing this year is that the assessed values of residential properties have increased at a higher pace than commercial properties," said First Selectperson Christine Vitale in a recent message to constituents. "The assessed value of residential properties is estimated to increase by 64 percent and commercial properties by 17 percent. This change will result in a shift in the grand list composition. Residential properties will shift from encompassing 78 percent of the Grand List to 84 percent of the Grand List. Other towns, like Westport and Greenwich, which are conducting a revaluation in 2025, are seeing a similar shift."

Vitale was quick to add that such a shift in property values does not necessarily correlate directly in tax rates.

"It is important to remember that the percentage of increase/decrease in your assessed value does not mean that your property taxes will increase/decrease by the same percent," Vitale said. "The tax value of your home is determined by multiplying the assessed property value by the mill rate and dividing by 1000."

Fairfield's Board of Finance sets the mill rate in May, which is voted on by the Representative Town Meeting.

Click here to schedule an informal assessment hearing; for more information on the revaluation process, click here.