A Phil Hall Op-Ed: I live in Connecticut, and I freely admit that I am envious of people who live in other states where the elected officials are making efforts to either reduce or eliminate property taxes. Whether or not those efforts generate serious results is another matter – at least those lawmakers are listening to their constituents and are cognizant of the onerous burdens carried by property owners. That is not case where I live.
According to the Tax Foundation, Connecticut has the third highest property taxes in the nation. It also has the third highest utility bills in the nation, as well as an acute shortage of affordable housing opportunities. Needless to say, it is an expensive place to live and work.
I would like to think that our governor, Ned Lamont – who is into his second term and running for a third term this year – would feel the pain of his state’s residents and offer something serious to alleviate the high costs of living here. Alas, our governor is a progressive Democrat and that’s not the type of politician who is seeking to lower or abolish property taxes.
Instead, Lamont is taking a noblesse oblige approach to helping his constituents dealing with a very high cost of living. The Lamont plan involves giving Connecticut residents one-time tax rebates of either $200 or $400, depending on their filing status and income levels.
“This will help address persistent inflation, rising utility costs, and the on-again, off-again impacts of tariffs that have caused Connecticut residents to pay ever increasing prices for goods and services,” said Lamont in a statement.
Uh, what? The answer to fighting against “persistent inflation, rising utility costs, and the on-again, off-again impacts of tariffs” is either $200 or $400, depending on your income? Seriously?
And what is the Lamont answer to sky-high property taxes? There is no answer – just pay them. Well, Lamont can afford to pay them – he was a billionaire executive before getting into politics and has no problems covering his bills.
And what is the Lamont answer to lowering our elevated utility costs? He doesn’t talk about that.
And what is the Lamont answer to Connecticut’s shortage of affordable housing, which has grown worse in his two terms as governor? Well, he wants a third term – maybe three times will be the charm in giving struggling Connecticut residents an affordable place to live?
Rep. Vincent Candelora, the Republican leader in the Connecticut House of Representatives, belittled the governor’s gift to residents.
“Connecticut faces a full-blown affordability crisis, and the governor’s answer won’t even cover half a month’s electric bill,” Candelora said. “Residents don’t need election-year gimmicks—they need systemic reforms that make our state affordable year after year. The solution is simple: reduce taxes, period.”
Alas, Connecticut has become a blue state and no amount of financial evidence will sway voters who prefer living in a blue state. Seriously, if the Democrats put up Woody Woodpecker to become governor, most Connecticut voters would vote for Woody Woodpecker because he’s the Democratic candidate.
Oh, there is one other ranking where Connecticut always rates highly: outbound migration. While some New Yorkers escaping the Mamdani Soviet Socialist Republic are now seeking refuge in Connecticut, many longtime residents who’ve had enough of high taxes and an elevated cost of living had enough and are moving to states where elected leaders listen to their constituents.
However, Lamont’s noblesse oblige gift to financially strapped Connecticut residents need the approval of the state legislature before any checks are mailed, and there is no guarantee until that happens. Until then, Connecticut’s residents are back where they started – paying too much in a state where the governor is out of touch with his local economy.
Maybe it’s time for me to consider another state to live in – and if you’re a realtor in a state where property taxes are on the chopping block, let me know what properties you might have for me!
Phil Hall is editor of Weekly Real Estate News. He can be reached at [email protected].
Photo of Gov. Ned Lamont courtesy of the governor’s Instagram page
