Politics & Government
Stamford Property Tax Increase Voted in at 2.42%
The Stamford Board of Finance set the Mill Rate during Wednesday night's meeting at a $17.79 average.
District
Mill Rate (per $1,000)
A
$17.89
B
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$17.49
C
Find out what's happening in Stamfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
$16.73
CS
$17.08
Personal
Property
$17.89
Average
$17.79 / 2.42%Stamford's Board of Finance approved a $17.79 Mill Rate Monday.
The levy is expected to raise $432,315,482 for the city's operating budget next year, and some reserves.
There was lengthy discussion between members about what funds they would include and what they would pass on, like $300,000 in the contingency fund at the request of Mayor Michael Pavia for the library or funding for his fire plan.
After one particularly lengthy discussion on a point of funding, board member Kathleen Murphy explained her thoughts that it was no longer the time to be having these discussions.
"We don't have a lot of money here," Murphy said. "We are in a tough economic environment. It's not the time to do this and we're not going to fix it all tonight. We shouldn't be [having these lengthy debates] on Mill Rate night. It's ludicrous."
Board member David Martin disagreed.
"I think that's wrong—it jeopardizes our city," he said. "Sometimes you have to call a stop to spending. This is a good time to do it."
"We've accomplished a budget that provides the city with working services and a reasonable tax rate," said Board of Finance Chair Timothy Abbazia. "We went through a lot of extensive discussion but we've got a lot of seasoned members and I think that valid points were brought up."
He said it's all about finding the middle ground that's in the best interest of the tax-paying citizens of Stamford.
"It's a case of balancing parties," Abbazia said. "It's balancing issues, weighing risks and opportunities and I think we came to that spot tonight."
The with a 2.93-percent increase with the budget ringing in at $470.6 million. The Board of Representatives just passed a and a $236 million Board of Education budget.
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