Fairfield’s Revaluation Is a Wake-Up Call on Taxes and Spending

This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.

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As Fairfield completes its long-delayed five-year property revaluation, many homeowners are opening their notices with anxiety and anger. Assessments are jumping dramatically, especially on residential properties, while many commercial values are not keeping pace. The result is simple and painful: even if town spending stayed flat, homeowners would shoulder a larger share of the tax burden. ¹

As a former realtor, I understand how valuations affect families, neighborhood stability, and long-term affordability. As your State Senator and a candidate for First Selectperson, I also understand that local government has a responsibility to protect taxpayers while maintaining the high-quality services we rely on.

Let me be very clear:
One of the main reasons I am running for First Selectperson is to keep Fairfield affordable by pairing quality town services with disciplined, priority-driven spending. Affordability is not just a budget line; it is about whether seniors can stay in their homes, whether young families can put down roots, and whether our children will be able to come back and live here. ²

This revaluation should be a wake-up call. We need a course correction built on three core commitments:

1. Professional, Accountable Town Management

We simply cannot afford mismanagement or preventable financial mistakes.

Recent years have brought troubling signs:

• An unauthorized six-figure vehicle purchase,
• Internal audits flagging breakdowns in purchasing controls,
• Heavy reliance on bonding not just for real capital needs, but to mask the true impact of spending on taxpayers.

In addition, our Finance Department has been hollowed out by turnover in key leadership roles. No organization -public or private - can go through that kind of disruption without serious risk.

As First Selectperson, I will:

• Modernize financial operations and enforce strict purchasing policies,
• Implement zero-based and long-term financial planning,
• Conduct regular internal reviews so problems are caught early, not after the bills come due.

Good management is not glamorous, but it is how you protect services and taxpayers at the same time.

2. Disciplined, Priority-Focused Budgeting

When residential assessments spike, the only responsible response is to control spending. If we don’t, Fairfield becomes less affordable, families leave, and speculative high-density development moves in to chase a hot market, changing the character of our neighborhoods.

My approach is straightforward:

• Focus first on core services—police, fire, public works, education, and critical infrastructure.
• Separate needs from wants and make tough choices instead of trying to be “all things to all people.”
• Maintain a stable, predictable budget to protect our bond rating, lower debt costs, and keep taxes from see-sawing on the backs of homeowners.

Leadership means saying no when necessary and being honest with residents about what we can afford and when.

3. Smart Economic Development to Rebalance the Tax Base

Long term, the one way to ease the load on homeowners is to grow our commercial tax base responsibly. When commercial values lag far behind residential ones, homeowners pay more. We see that today.

As First Selectperson, I will:

• Support small businesses and appropriately scaled commercial projects,
• Use my experience and relationships in real estate to attract the right kind of development, not overdevelopment,
• Insist that new projects respect neighborhood character and do not overload our roads and infrastructure.

Some partisan critics attack me for knowing and working with long-time commercial developers. I see that experience as an asset. You cannot shape growth in Fairfield’s interest if you don’t understand how these relationships work or have a seat at the table.

What Homeowners Can Do Now

If you believe your new assessment is inaccurate, you can request an informal hearing with the revaluation company, Tyler Technologies, at: www.tylertech.com/fairfield through January 9, 2026. ³

For a formal challenge, you may apply to the Board of Assessment Appeals between February 2 and February 20, 2026. Hearings will be held in March.

Together, we can bring discipline, transparency, and smart growth to Town Hall and ensure Fairfield remains strong, affordable, and well-managed for the next generation.

As always, I want to hear from you directly. Please contact me at 203-807-8098 or Tony@TonyHwang.org and share your concerns and priorities. I respectfully ask for your trust and your vote for First Selectperson on February 3, 2026.

Source:

1. https://www.fairfieldct.org/service/tax_assessor/property_revaluation.php
2. https://tonyhwang.org/quality-town-services/
3. https://cms3.revize.com/revize/fairfield/service/tax_assessor/property_revaluation.php

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