Board advances public-safety budgets to city council as revaluation shifts tax burden onto homeowners

The Torrington Board of Public Safety voted to advance multiple public-safety budgets to the city council at a special budget meeting, saying a recent property revaluation has shifted the tax burden toward homeowners and forced deep cuts or level funding across departments.

The board's budget subcommittee told the meeting that residential property values rose roughly 90%–110% in the revaluation performed Oct. 1, 2024, while commercial values rose about 40%. The mismatch, officials said, means the city faces a tax-shift that could increase residential property tax bills by roughly 25%–42% if adjustments are not made by the council.

The board advanced the proposed budgets for public safety miscellaneous, the fire department, volunteer fire organizations, the police department, animal control, traffic and emergency management to the city council for approval. The moves do not constitute final approvals; the city council will review the packages and set final appropriations.

Why it matters: department leaders said the revaluation left the city with little room to raise…