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OPM outlines technical updates to municipal reporting and depreciation rules in SB 1343; CCM seeks drafting fixes
Summary
The Office of Policy and Management asked the Planning and Development Committee to approve SB 13‑43, a technical bill that would standardize certain municipal reporting processes and personal property depreciation schedules and add an enforcement mechanism for missing reports.
Martin Heft, Undersecretary for Intergovernmental Policy and Planning at the Office of Policy and Management, told the committee SB 1343 implements recommendations to streamline municipal reporting, clarify assessment and tax collection practices, modernize certain processes and add enforcement for failure to file statutory reports to OPM.
Heft said OPM proposes requiring consistent depreciation schedules for personal property declarations (citing Connecticut statutes recommending depreciation schedules), and noted only two municipalities currently use a different approach. Heft also identified a drafting error in section 11 that would inappropriately give the secretary unilateral authority to determine CCMA criteria; OPM asked the committee to correct that draft language so the committee, not the secretary, retains the statutory assignment.
Randy Collins of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities raised concerns about the proposed fine ($100–$250) for late reporting tied to certain LOSIP and exemption reports and asked for more collaborative approaches before monetary penalties are imposed. CCM also questioned language that appeared to give the OPM secretary authority to change municipal assessor certification criteria and asked for stable, collaborative rules.
No committee votes were recorded at the hearing; witnesses offered to work with staff on technical drafting and on implementation timelines.
