Dear Town Council Members,

My wife and I, West Harford senior citizens, are now facing a property tax increase of 22%, based on the revaluation and the current anticipated mill rate of 31.43%. Our 22% increase is after I met with an Assessor’s Office representative, last October, and my assessment was reduced from the original value.

We, like many other West Hartford senior citizens, are on a fixed income that is constantly eroding due to the upward-spiraling cost of living. We do not get raises that will cover those increases. The course of West Hartford taxation seems to be to rid itself of senior citizens by making living in The Town so expensive that people will have to move to a more favorable location. After living at the same home, for almost 39 years, I hope that doesn’t become necessary.

A reasonable tax increase is acceptable and of course understood to be necessary. Unfortunately, modest-home owners, such as us, bear the brunt of such increases because our home values are the basis of taxation and those home values have increased considerably since 1999. It seems unfair that the heaviest burden is assigned to those with the properties of modest value just because their value increased more over a certain period.

Another factor is the property tax on vehicles which will benefit the owners with multiple vehicles of high-value. Their burden will decrease substantially because of the lower mill rate. Of course, we will benefit from the lower mill rate too, but we have one six-year old automobile so that reduction will be rather insignificant.

I feel that a fair taxation method would be an across the board increase of perhaps 3% to all taxpayers, based on their last year’s tax. That would be fair as it would distribute the tax increase evenly to all property owners. I do realize that my suggestion oversimplifies the taxation process.

At this time of excessive tax burdens, ALL anticipated frivolous expenses should be dropped from the budget. A miniature golf course, school stadium lighting, excessive pay raises and of course, the bear statue are certainly frivolous expenses in my book.

Hopefully, we can continue to live in a West Hartford with reasonable taxation.

Respectfully,

Frederic R. Schadt

12 Brookmoor Road

West Harford, CT, 06107