State lawmakers sign off on one-year delay to Hartford revaluation

State lawmakers signed off last week on giving Hartford the option to delay its property revaluation by one year.

State law requires every Connecticut municipality to reassess the value of taxable properties at least once every five years.
Hartford’s latest revaluation is due Oct. 1.

In Hartford, housing values have risen quickly, even as the city’s hugely important commercial office sector has seen values plummet. Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam feared this would result in a dramatic reshuffling of the city’s tax burden on the backs of homeowners.

Arulampalam requested a year’s delay in revaluation, hoping that would provide relief as new developments added taxable value and the city seeks to stabilize office values.

The request ended up blended in a wide-ranging bill including provisions on property tax abatements, judges’ compensation, hospital provider taxes and more.

It passed on May 6, the last day of the legislative session.

The bill now requires a signature from Gov. Ned Lamont. Hartford’s City Council will also have to vote on whether it wishes to delay revaluation.