Revaluation Notices Mailed In Stratford: Here’s What To Know

STRATFORD, CT — In compliance with Connecticut State Law for the 2025 Revaluation process in the Town of Stratford, property owners should be receiving their Notices of Assessment Change in the mail this week, according to a news release from the Stratford Mayor’s Office.

The notices demonstrate a property’s previous assessed value based on the October 1, 2019 Revaluation, and what the new proposed assessment will be for the October 1, 2025 Revaluation.

The updated assessment reflects 70 percent of each property’s fair market value.

Read more from the news release below:

Residential property values are likely to increase based on current housing market trends in the State. While this may cause initial concern, it is important to understand that assessments are only one part of the equation. The Town’s budget and mill rate for the upcoming fiscal year will not be set until Spring 2026, meaning there is more coordination and decision-making before any impact on individual tax bills is determined.

“A state-mandated revaluation can understandably raise questions, but I want to reassure property owners that this is a routine process designed to ensure fairness in how property values are assessed,” Mayor Laura Hoydick said. “We encourage anyone with concerns to take advantage of the informal hearings and speak directly with Vision Government Solutions.”

Important Notice to Property Owners:

Residents are strongly advised NOT to apply the current mill rate to their new assessments. Doing so will produce an inaccurate estimate of future taxes. The new mill rate will be determined by the Town Council following the adoption of the FY 2026–2027 budget in Spring 2026.

To assist residents with questions or concerns, Vision Government Solutions will conduct informal valuation hearings over the coming month at the Baldwin Center.

Residents who receive their new proposed assessment and have evidence demonstrating that the market value for their property differs from the proposed assessment can schedule an informal hearing with the revaluation company, Vision Government Solutions, by visiting www.vgsi.com/schedules or calling 1-888-844-4300.

Instructions to register are included in the mailed notice. Residents who wish to do so should book their appointment within seven days of receipt of their notice.

Hearings will be scheduled in November and December at The Baldwin Center. Appointments are available Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Nov. 26 – Nov. 28 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

You may also appeal your assessment to the Board of Assessment Appeals after the informal hearing process with Vision Government Solutions has been completed. Written appeals to the BAA must be filed between February 1, 2026 - February 20, 2026.

For questions or assistance:

• See 2025 Revaluation FAQ document (below)
• Call Stratford Tax Assessor Office: 203-385-4025
• Visit the Assessor’s website: https://www.stratfordct.gov/page/tax-assessor

2025 Revaluation FAQ

WHAT IS A REVALUATION?

A Revaluation is the process of conducting the Data Collection and Market Analysis necessary to equalize the values of all properties within a municipality for the purpose of a fair distribution of the tax burden.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A REVALUATION?

A physical inspection of both the interior and exterior of each property is conducted, where building dimensions and characteristics are noted. This is the Data Collection phase of the project. While the Data Collection phase is going on, Appraiser’s are studying the sales and determining where the actual increases and decreases in value are occurring. This study of recent property sales allows comparisons to be made and Appraiser’s to establish parameters to estimate the value of property that has not been sold. The Appraiser’s then review this collected data and apply the determining factors of the sales analysis to come up with a value of each property.

HOW WILL THE HOMEOWNER BE NOTIFIED OF THE NEW ASSESSMENT?

Each homeowner, at the completion of the project, will receive an individual notice of the new assessment. Property owners can then review the entire public assessed values, so that the property owner can see what the values are around his/her property. All property owners are given the opportunity to discuss their values with the Appraisal Staff at an appointed time which will be publicly announced (Hearings) towards the end of the Revaluation. At a hearing the property owner can voice concerns, discuss inaccuracies or discrepancies with a qualified Appraiser who will review the property record card and explain the value. Should an inspection or re-valuation need to be done the Appraiser will make that determination and any changes that result will be sent to the property owner.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY ASSESSMENT IS EQUITABLE?

There are two very good methods of determining this. First, compare your properties to similar properties that sold in the previous year. Your value should be in line with these sale prices. Second, if no recent sales are available, compare your assessment to other similar properties in your area using the Street Listing of Values available in the Assessor’s Office. Your value should be in line with these similar properties. Remember, very few properties are exactly alike. Your value should be comparable, but it seldom will be exactly the same as what seems to be a similar property.

WHY DID MY LAND VALUE CHANGE DIFFERENTLY THAN MY BUILDING VALUE?

Since the last Revaluation, Real Estate Values have changed significantly. Over the same period, building construction costs have increased at a much slower rate. Since building costs have not increased as much as total values, the bulk of the total increase, if any, is attributable to land. This makes perfect economic sense, as it is land that is limited supply.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO THE APPRAISER’S HAVE?

The administration of this project shall be assigned to a Project Manager or Supervisor who shall be certified by the State of Connecticut as a Revaluation Supervisor pursuant to C.G.S.. 12-2c and such other statues and regulations that the State of Connecticut may promulgate from time to time. Project Supervisors are required to have no less than three (3) years of practical experience in the appraisal of commercial, industrial, apartment, farm and residential type properties. Residential Review Appraiser’s are required to have no less than two (2) years experience. In addition, both the Project Supervisor and Review Appraiser’s must pass a written comprehensive examination administered by the Office of Policy and Management.

WHAT ABOUT ELDERLY AND VETERANS EXEMPTIONS?

The law requires that the Assessor appraise taxable property and not the people who own it. Under state law, all property is appraised at current fair market value. There are, however, two programs (the Elderly Tax Freeze Program which is being phased out, & the Elderly and Totally Disabled Homeowners Program) that provide tax relief for qualifying persons over the age of 65. Other statutes provide exemptions for the who are veterans, disabled, or blind. If you now have an exemption it will be automatically deducted at tax billing time.

WHAT IS AN INFORMAL HEARING?

Towards the end of the Revaluation, every homeowner receives a notice of their proposed valuation based on the analysis performed. These values are not final, only after the hearings will values be final. When a homeowner has a question or concern about the proposed valuation, they are asked to call the firm and a date and time to meet will be set to discuss the valuation process and answer any questions the homeowner may have. An informal hearing is not a forum to discuss taxes, it is strictly meant to answer questions on the property valuations. Homeowners are asked to come prepared with questions and have compared their property to other comparable ones in their neighborhood. A Hearing Officer will determine if a review of the property is necessary. All changes to value that occur due to a hearing will be reflected in the change notice that is sent after hearings are complete.

IF I DISAGREE WITH MY ASSESSMENT AFTER A HEARING, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

If any property-owner believes the assessment on their property is in excess of its Fair Market Value they should first notify the Assessor’s Office. They may then appeal before the Municipality’s Board of Assessment Appeals. The Board of Assessment Appeals will review the case and make a determination as to the disposition of the appeal. Should the property-owner still feel the assessment is incorrect, they may appeal to the Superior Court for the judicial district in which the municipality is located. All appeals to the Board of Assessment Appeals must be made by February 20th if the grand list is filed by the Assessor’s Office by January 31st. If the town is granted an extension to file the grand list the filing deadline to the Board of Assessment Appeals is March 20th. Always contact your local Assessor’s Office with any questions pertaining to the filing dates for appeals.

WILL A REVALUATION INCREASE TAXES?

A Revaluation may result in an increase or decrease of individual assessments, it does not mean that all property taxes will increase. You may be saying, “SURE”! but remember assessments are only the base that is used to determine the Tax Burden. The Tax Burden is the amount that the Municipality must raise to operate the local government and support the many services each of us has come to expect, such as schools, police, etc. If the same amount of money is to be raised after the Revaluation as the previous year and each assessment doubles, the tax rate would merely be cut in half.

WHAT IS MARKET VALUE AND WHO DETERMINES MY PROPERTY VALUE?

Market Value is determined by people, by the activity in the Real Estate Market and the general economy. The value of your property is based on an analysis of the entire market for the full two calendar years before the completion of the revaluation Project. The market can generally be defined as, you, the person who sold the property to you, and the person willing to buy it from you. It is the Appraiser’s job to research and analyze the values in any particular area or neighborhood. In effect, they do what you would do to determine the selling price when putting your property up for sale. Only the appraiser has specific guidelines to follow. Factors that are examined for each property are: location, size, quality of construction, age of improvements, topography, utilities, zoning restrictions, if any, etc.

DO I HAVE TO LET THE ASSESSOR’S OFFICE INSPECT MY PROPERTY?

No, you don’t have to let them in, this is a request not a court order. However, if you choose not to let the Assessor’s Office in they will be forced to estimate the interior of the property. There are three scenarios that can occur. The first is that the Assessor’s Office will estimate correctly and your assessment will be accurate. The second is the Assessor’s Office will estimate incorrectly and you will receive an inaccurate assessment. The third case scenario is that the taxpayer made improvements to the house and the new assessment does not reflect the improvements. If you want an accurate assessment on your property the best approach is to let the Assessor’s Office inspect the property.