Trumbull's new tax rate will be 31.286 mills, an increase of 1.87 percent, First Selectman Tim Herbst said Friday afternoon.
"Please be advised that in accordance with the Town Charter and a legal opinion from our Town Attorney, I am setting a mil rate of 31.286, an increase of 1.87 percent, below the current rate of inflation," he said.
"In light of the fact that the average Trumbull homeowner saw a property tax reduction of 3.5%, I am confident that this tax rate maintains and improves upon Town services while keeping Trumbull's cost of living affordable for our residents," he added.
He did not comment further.
A mil is $1 tax per $1,000 of assessed value (which is 70 percent of the market value). The current tax rate is 30.71 mils.
Herbst set the tax rate because the Board of Finance deadlocked Thursday night. The deadline to determine taxation is May 25.
Board of Finance Member Tom Tesoro said the tax rate should have increased by 3 percent based on the approved 2013-2014 budget. A lower rate hides spending and does not preserve transparency, he added.
"You want your tax rate to reflect your spending," Tesoro said.
He called the new tax rate "voodoo economics."
"I can't imagine how he can reach that figure," Tesoro said.
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