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Finance committee advances planning for Homestead exemption, sets outreach and timeline
Summary
Stratford’s Finance & Audit Committee reviewed implementation options for a limited Homestead exemption, directed staff to mail attestation forms to roughly 17,000 properties, and emphasized deadlines tied to the Oct. 1 assessment and the grand list filing schedule.
Stratford’s Finance & Audit Committee held a second session on the limited Homestead exemption and focused on how the town would implement, verify and publicize the program. Chair Chris opened the meeting by reviewing the committee’s charge and Catherine, the town assessor, presented the attestation form and projections showing a range of impacts based on exemption levels. "There are 17,000 eligible properties as it stands," Catherine said when outlining the mailing plan.
Committee members pressed staff on timing, fairness and fiscal consequences as the council considers an exemption anywhere from 5% to 35%. Members agreed outreach will be extensive—mailed notices, public meetings and web resources—and that council action must be synchronized with the Oct. 1 assessment date and the grand list filing this calendar year. "This Homestead Act is revenue neutral," Chair Chris said, explaining that any tax relief for some property owners will shift burden to other categories unless offset by different assumptions in the grand list.
