Letter: Willington Town Budget 2025-2026

To my fellow Willington Taxpayers,

This year’s budget vote is particularly important, as many residents are discovering the adverse effects of the recent property revaluation.

Do not be misled by the decrease in the mil rate (from 33.89 down to 26.69) – the reality is that the increase in your property’s market value far exceeds the potential beneficial effect of a decreased mil rate. The crazy real estate market during COVID combined with high housing demand is largely responsible for these increases in property value.

In the proposed budget most Commercial taxpayers will be seeing a modest increase in their taxes that will be due in July. Revaluation did NOT result in an appreciable increase in Commercial and Industrial property values.

HOWEVER, many residential property owners (and vacant land NOT in PA490) will be seeing varying INCREASES in their upcoming tax bill(s). Residential property values have increased substantially since the previous 2018 revaluation. Some modest – most NOT so modest. Many will be seeing bills that are $750± or more higher than last year.

I’m sure we all would appreciate the increase in market value of our property values if we were to sell. But to be taxed for 100% of these increases in only one budget cycle, which will not likely decrease over the next 4 years, is simply too much for many residents to endure.

Please put the date of this referendum on your calendar (May 6th, 2025) and make every possible effort to vote on this matter.

Ralph Tulis

Willington CT

PS While property taxes in most CT towns are imposed on Assessed value (i.e. 70% of Appraised or Market value), the fact remains that the tax burden is directly proportional to changes in market value.