property reevaluation scam

[navyvet]

Politicians use reevaluation as an opportunity to confuse people AND raise their taxes.
Property reevaluation and town budget are two different things, having nothing to do with each other. Politicians feign regret at the increasing property values and "inevitable" tax increase. They say they are mandated to increase the property values and apologize for the resulting tax increase.
The truth is, when the property increases in value, the mil rate should be lowered to the point that taxes DO NOT INCREASE at all.
THEN.......They should go about putting the budget together. Then if a tax increase is needed, it is because the local politicians have decided to spend more of the tax payers money. This is not "mandated" by some distant entity, beyond the control of the local officials.
Don`t be confused people....

[gene36]

I agree,that the mil rate should be ajusted to the new value of our property and leveled off to what we paid last year.
Then the town can work on a new budget to be submitted to the voters, with the idea of finding a way to decrease taxes.
I don't agree with cutting firemen or police(we should build up these dept).

[UNiRAC]

NavyVet " when the property increases in value, the mil rate should be lowered to the point that taxes DO NOT INCREASE at all. "
GENE " ."...I don't agree with cutting firemen or police
CherriBarbz "...scam,they did it just before the housing market collapsed..."

I seem to recall that it was reported that the accesement AND Mil rate came down a few weeks ago. Let's Hope the CITY can balance the books now [ or there will be many 'Un-happy Campers' to contend with <insert plug for Citizens-action-committee here>

[gene36]

The police dept. does a sweep every couple of months to get the working girls off the streets. Guess where they find most of them? Usual on east main near the town hall. Hmmm, I wonder if there is a connection here.
And they want to reduce the police force?

[Colby]

How about if the cops put away their cellphones and get out of their cruisers more?

[catnap]

Of course it is. But re-evalutation is mandated by the state - the cities are just complying...and real estate has sky-rocketed. Actually will a mil rate of 29 I should just about come out even, from my evaluation.

The problem was the re-evals. My house and my friends house are in the same area - my house might be worth a bit more that hers, due to condition, etc., but nothing substantial her re-eval trippled mine didn't even double. Something is way off.

[stagehog01]

Street walkers near City hall?;) I'm suprised we don't see some city councilers asking tax payers..."Hey Baby, you going out?" maybe then we will get something for our dolloars....not that I would want what ever it is they are giving us.:eek:

[collie]

Got my bill today - instead of paying $800. every three months, I'm now a hair breath away from $1200. I did go up to city hall and appeal; didn't do much good. Figured in the end, maybe I'd better shut up and not leave too big a paper trail in case I opt to get the hell out and want to sell. If the city is so adament about the price of my house having risen 75%, let's hope I get it when I sell. Every where I look in Meriden there are for sales signs popping up left and right and none of them are selling! That would fix the City of Meriden; they seem to think all of the sudden we have a low mill rate. I thought we had one of the highest in the state.

[UNiRAC]

NavyVet " when the property increases in value, the mil rate should be lowered to the point that taxes DO NOT INCREASE at all. "
GENE " ."...I don't agree with cutting firemen or police
CherriBarbz "...scam,they did it just before the housing market collapsed..."
<insert plug for Citizens-action-committee here>
COLLIE I feel for ya hun but B'port had the highest rates for many a good year [ not my good years] plz be patient and hang in there,, we VOTE in Nov. :rolleyes:

[collie]

Considering Benigni advocates for more higher income housing in Meriden, I don't see much property tax relief ahead at election time. He'll be elected again and city councilors running on the Democratic ticket will ride in on his coattails. For some reason, Benigni's vision of "balancing" Meriden's housing with more higher income housing doesn't ring any bells with maybe anybody but me. Present City Councilors seem to agree with this, so I think they're not going to run anybody at odds with their philosophies.

[UNiRAC]

Of course it is. But re-evalutation is mandated by the state - the cities are just complying...and real estate has sky-rocketed. Actually will a mil rate of 29 I should just about come out even, from my evaluation.

The problem was the re-evals. My house and my friends house are in the same area - my house might be worth a bit more that hers, due to condition, etc., but nothing substantial her re-eval trippled mine didn't even double. Something is way off.
Dear Editors: plz delete this faux paux :confused:
I just got my [semi-annual?? not in Green Colour] and was only upset that the city printed my bill [ not over-due] in Bright ALARMIST red !!!
28 mils ain't bad but it ain't Turkey either.:cool:
:confused: In '91 when B'port taxes were at a peek, Mayor filed the City Bankrupt,I was layed-off,under-employed,paying $500/mos for 'COBRA' health insurance, kids farmed to inner-city schools, , no 'Un-employement $$$ for 6 mos., worked the summer as a 'Trunk-Slammer in Fla. for $5/day... [gotta catch my breath { and point}] came back to Yankee-land to work for a third world/Global economy Co. as a sub-contractor... Oh Yeah!?, the point is $-SALE signs went up , people fled like rats in a 300 yr old sewer, 'Section 8 housing ' came to Da HOOD [ upper Nort'end of B'port, Crime went up , neighbors fled town, I bought Ammo,,, besides working as a scab in the early 90's and then hittin' pay-dirt for 6 yrs. to pay for MY sons' Colleges education till around Y2K , <--- see history back thar' I ended up on Coleman St in 'Da Hollow' Thank God I got my pound-dawg to tell me to move to God's Place a CONDO for all good lil' puppiez , Silver City , RT5 x Rt.66, USofA
as alwayz, all FLAMEZ welcome

[catnap]

So - when do we start paying these new eval rates? - It's not on my July mortgage statement.....thank God:p

[collie]

I don't know how it works on a mortgage statement because I own my home outright - bought it from family when my parents died, so I never had a mortgage. Mine came in a tax statement bill from City - due by last day of July. Count your blessings, cross your fingers, maybe you won't see an increase if you haven't yet!

[gene36]

Where has every one been? When our rulers came up with the new budget and tax rate no one screamed! Now that the bill is in the mail and tax payers see the dollar signs in front of them they might understand the scam that was pulled over their eyes.
Thank you Meriden for the low mil rate that only raised my taxes $800.00 this year.
Thank you Meriden for reval. at the peak of the market that is 30% MORE than I could sell it for, If I could find some one to buy it.
Thank you Meriden for the roman circuslike fire works. All they need to do now is pass out free bread and all us worker ants can loll around and clap our hands while Meriden falls.

[cantspeakspanish]

Not sure how much more I'll be paying in taxes this year as I havent seen an increase of my mortage....yet. I will say that my wife and I are looking very hard at getting out of Meriden now while the getting is still relatively good. We are in a condo, thank goodness, so it may sell quicker than your average home in Meridens' stagnant market. We, with our real estate agent, have looked at numerous houses in Ct, mostly shoreline, but Haddam, Chester as well. This is what we have learned:

1. We pay more taxes in a 2 bedroom Meriden condo than we would in a $425K house on 2 acres in Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Essex or Clinton. Think about that for a second.

2. Every school system in each of the towns we have looked puts Meridens' to shame, even the regional school districts of Haddam, Higganum, Deep River, etc.

3. A town's mill rate makes not 1 bit of difference if the assessments are too high. This is why there is such a mass exodus of Meriden. Take a look at all the houses for sale in Meriden some time and you'll see what I mean. Nobody can even get the assessed price for their home let alone a "market price" because the taxes are so prohibitive.

It would be different if we actually got something in return for our tax money, but we dont. So, see ya later Meriden. We won't miss you.

[catnap]

I have alot of fond memories of living in Meriden....for many years - but soon the time will come for me too - so say So Long Baby.

I have no kids in School - and honestly I wished I bailed out of Meriden before they got to Middle School - I tell anyone now with kids if they can get out of Meriden before that - go. The elementary schools are great - in my expierence but it's a whole nother story in middle school and especially the High Schools. High School were in all honesty, damaging my kids. One complained of the gangs and constant upheaval in the classrooms.

But I won't linger this time - when I move - it will be out of this city.

[eds]

I have an observation. Personally I think there should be no property taxes period. But I am Libertarian and we hate taxes. Rich or poor who wants to part with their money?

But I can't help but notice that Meriden is rather affordable when compared to the rest of the state. Let me explain. I don't necessarily agree with how the money is being spent. Let me say that first.

But how much is being collected seems about right when you compare Meriden to the rest of the state and when you take into account the savings you get from lower car taxes.

According to Yahoo Real Estate the median home price in Old Saybrook is $459,500. That means at 70% you are taxed on a value of $321,650. The mill rate there is 14.6 (Hartford Courant 2005-2006 tax year) so that means annual average taxes of $4696.09.

In Meriden the median home price is $221,900. Meriden mill rate is 27.9, I think. So the taxable value in Meriden, on average, is $155,330 and the average annual tax is $4333.71.

The mill rate may be lower in Old Saybrook, but the average price for a home there is nearly double. Because the property values are higher in Old Saybrook, you get a lower mill rate. Because the property values in Meriden are low, then the mill is higher. But the difference in taxes is about $300 per year more expensive in Old Saybrook. How is that cheaper? I doubt decent housing can be found for $220,000 in Old Saybrook.

I give Danbury, Bridgeport and Greenwich as example next.

Greenwich, CT, has about the same population at Meriden and yet it has a mill rate of 11.51. The average home price there is $1.6 Million. That means at 70% value, you pay $18,400 per year on average.

Sure if you can find a house in Greenwich for $220,000 like the average in Meriden, you would pay less. But you cannot find similar housing for the same price in Greenwich save for a shack.

When I married I moved from Danbury, where the average home price is $354,900. The mill rate there was 23.03. So the average annual tax bill was $5721.34. Danbury and Meriden are similiar in population. The mill rates are pretty much the same now after revaluation. Yet the home values there are much higher than Meriden so you would pay more taxes there.

Bridgeport has similar average home price, yet a mill rate of 40.3. Your taxes there would be more expensive than Meriden, and your quality of life much worse I would say in my opinion.

Looking at the state, there are 31,281 homes for sale with an average price of $354,900. The means, on average, the home prices in Meriden are about 38% cheaper than the rest of the state. Hard to beat that.

People should not look at the mill rate and pick the smallest one. Mills are smaller in towns with higher property values. Connecticut just isn't an affordable state to live in no matter where you go.

I personally could not find a more affordable place in Connecticut. Hartford might be a choice because their average house price is $180,000 but their mill rate is 60 something. That's about $7500 average per year in taxes there. In 1998 or so the mill rate in Waterbury was over 74.6 and their home price was about $170,000 average. That's over $8800 in taxes per year.

Again, the lower the value of the house, the higher the mill rate.

Where is it truly cheaper to live than Meriden, when you take into account home price, tax rate, and quality of living?

The reason homes are not selling for the asking price in Meriden, is because all over the nation housing is slumping. No one is getting the price they want because there is no demand like there was. The sub-prime lending industry introduced many unqualified candidates into the market which increased demand and increased prices. Our reval came just at the tail end of the market inflation. We need to wait to the next reval.

The sub-prime business hurt the housing market. No one can get, nor should they have ever gotten, a sub-prime loan just to get a house. 100% financing should never have been allowed.

Right now, because the sub-prime industry has tightened up the capital, there are less qualified people out there to purchase a home and therefore less demand. Lower demand equals lower prices.

[collie]

Well, there are other states to move to. Anybody know if it's more affordable in Massachusetts, Rhode Island or New York states?

[UNiRAC]

[QUOTE=eds]Again, the lower the value of the MEDIAN house, the higher the mill rate.

Where is it truly cheaper to live than Meri-lingfjord, when you take into account home price, tax rate, and quality of living?:cool:
:eek: It's cheap to buy in Mich. & Ind. or even Mont. but try to find a decent JOB! WallinDEN or WalDen is the epicenter of Conn. , and as such... the richest should pay to help the MEDIAN and let's get rid of Sect. 8 trash [ no offense to trailer parks nor Wal-Martz]
as alwayz, all flames welcom :cool:

[eds]

New York might be affordable up-state. I have family there. But jobs are hard to find.

Mass? The folks who live there call it Taxachusetts. Probably another CT situation.

Rhode Island is probably more expensive from what I know but I could be wrong.


UniRac, I am confused... Section 8 is discharge from the US military for insanity. What do you mean? I come from a military family so that's what it means to me. I understand you served overseas. So did my Dad. 67-69. Like your kids, I put my name in but the feds never called. Dad said don't volunteer. Anyway...too many bad memories...later...