Stratford Mayor David Chess Addresses Property Tax Hike Concerns at Town Hall Meeting

Stratford Mayor David Chess Addresses Looming Property Tax Hike at Town Hall Meeting

STRATFORD — In a pivotal Town Hall meeting on April 21, 2026, Mayor David Chess outlined his administration’s strategy to mitigate the impact of a significant property tax hike resulting from the recent real estate revaluation. The meeting, attended by concerned residents and Town Council members, highlighted the challenges facing homeowners as property values surged post-pandemic.

The Town Council’s Democratic majority approved a phased-in tax increase as part of a $277.6 million budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, setting the mill rate at 37.73. This approach aims to ease the financial burden on homeowners whose property values have skyrocketed, with some assessments increasing by as much as 80%.

“This phase-in should provide real relief,” Democratic Councilwoman Jean Collier stated, addressing a visibly frustrated audience. Under the new plan, residential property values will be raised by only 33% of their new assessments, rather than the full amount. For example, a home valued at $200,000 that jumped to $360,000 will instead be assessed at $252,800, resulting in a July tax bill of $9,538 instead of $10,350.

Despite the efforts to soften the blow, the council’s three Republican members voiced concerns that the budget could have been trimmed further to provide additional tax relief. “It’s just not enough,” remarked Republican Councilman Carl Glad, emphasizing the need for more substantial cuts.

Chess, who was elected last fall, inherited a challenging budget landscape marked by the delayed state-mandated five-year real estate revaluation. The previous administration had managed to keep tax rates stable, making the sudden increases all the more jarring for residents.

The revaluation, which had been postponed due to the retirement of the town’s assessor, resulted in average residential assessments soaring by 80%, while commercial properties saw a more modest increase of 22%. While the tax rate dropped from 40.2 mills to 28.27 mills, the increase in property values meant many homeowners would still face higher tax bills.

During the meeting, tensions escalated as residents expressed their frustration. One man shouted, “Just take my house!” while a couple turned their backs in silent protest. Council members attempted to reassure the audience, with Democratic Councilman Philip Young reminding them, “We are Stratford taxpayers too.”

In a bid to further alleviate the tax burden, Chess announced plans to explore the new Connecticut Homestead Act, which allows municipalities to artificially deflate property values by up to 35%. However, he later acknowledged that there wasn’t enough time to implement this for the upcoming tax season, but expressed hope for its inclusion in the 2027-28 budget.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from Chess and the council to continue seeking solutions to address the financial strain on residents, as the town grapples with the fallout from the revaluation and the need for responsible fiscal management.