Derby Revaluation of Properties Getting Underway

DERBY- The City of Derby would like to make homeowners and commercial property owners aware that the 2020 revaluation project is under way and will be performed by the City of Derby Assessor’s Office.

The first phase of the revaluation process is collecting current information on all properties within the City of Derby. Derby was scheduled to conduct a Full Inspection effort which included an onsite visit to all properties within the City.  Due to COVID-19, an executive order has been enacted by the state substituting the Full Inspection effort with a Data Mailer. 

Data Mailers are a postal mailing that contains specific information on each property.  They will be mailed to the owner on record with the City.  The property owner will be asked to make any necessary adjustments and return the form to the Derby Assessors office or deposit it in the drop box on the Minerva side of City Hall.  Detailed instructions will be included in the mailing.

The Data Mailers are expected to be mailed in July of 2020.

Any questions, please contact the Derby Assessor’s Office at revaluation@derbyct.gov or call 203-736-1455. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation in this very important process.

(This is a press release from Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo)

Ansonia mayoral candidate responds to Della Volpe

By David Cassetti

Valley Independent Sentinel photo

Mayoral candidate

ANSONIA - We need accountability from City Hall. Unfortunately, the Mayor’s recent article blaming revaluation for Ansonia’s high tax debacle is anything but accountable.

Ansonia now carries the ninth highest tax rate in Connecticut.  Revaluation does not explain that away.

Every city and town in the state goes through revaluation.  Yet not every city and town finds themselves with the ninth highest tax rate— in this case, ninth highest out of 169 other cities and towns.

Revaluation is not an excuse for high taxes in any situation.  Lower property assessments do not cause higher taxes.  The total city budget determines the money to be raised from property taxes.

Ansonia saw a 7 percent increase in net taxes to be collected in 2013.  Net taxes increased by 6 percent last year.  These increases have nothing whatsoever to do with revaluation. 

Revaluation is also not an excuse for lack of preparation.  Revaluation is a process required by state law.  It is not performed by surprise. The Della Volpe administration has had since 2007 to plan for the next revaluation.  It could have planned for a phased in revaluation.  It did not.  In fact, net taxes increased by 10.3 percent in 2008!

The current administration dropped the ball with respect to bringing tax-paying businesses into town.  It dropped the ball on implementing real cost-saving solutions in time to avoid the mess we now face.
After 14 years, residents deserve more than excuses from City Hall. 

On Oct. 9, 2013 my team will unveil a “Game Plan” for Ansonia.  My plan contains no excuses.  Rather, it addresses Ansonia’s challenges with clear solutions.
These solutions include:
•    Implementation of a Cost Cutting Commission to work year-round on identifying cost savings for the city. 
•    Creation of a professional City Manager position to replace layers of expensive and wasteful bureaucracy in city hall.
•    Providing long overdue tax relief for senior citizens, reimbursable by state funds.
•    Formation of a task force to plan for the future of Ansonia’s former industrial sites.
•    Elimination of the unelected Board of Apportionment and Taxation via charter revision.

I am also in full support of the “Responsible Referendum” proposal brought forth by Republican Aldermen such as Charlie Stowe. That proposal, if passed, will allow residents to vote on net tax increases of 3 percent or more, thereby keeping City Hall accountable regardless of who holds office.

The time for excuses is over. Ansonia deserves a fresh start. 


This is a guest column.

Ansonia mayor addresses tax issues

By James Della Volpe

ANSONIA - As mayor of this community, I’d like to address our property tax concerns in Ansonia.

Why did my taxes go up this year?

Ansonia taxes increased for many people, including myself, primarily due to revaluation of real property. Also, the state contributed less funding in certain areas, which meant a loss of revenue, while the city increased its local commitment to our schools and police protection. 

What is revaluation?

Connecticut mandates municipal property revaluations every five years to measure and determine changes in property values. By law, municipalities must assess property for 70 percent of its fair market value, which is then taxed. 

How does it work?

Municipalities hire professional property appraisal firms to complete field inspections of all properties. Value is then determined using "generally accepted mass appraisal methods," which for residential properties includes comparing the recent sales of similar properties and determining how much it would cost to replace the home if it was damaged or destroyed. 

When was the last time Ansonia had a revaluation?

Prior to 2012, Ansonia's last property revaluation was performed in 2007 at the height of the real estate growth, which resulted in unusually high property assessments and protests from Ansonia's commercial sector.  

What happened this year?

As required by State mandates, Ansonia hired a professional property appraisal firm to inspect about 5,500 property parcels for the revaluation process. The city's total taxable assessment for real estate decreased by an average of 25 percent. The decrease was fairly uniform across the city, but multi-family houses lost more value than single-family homes. With all that said, the city still needs to raise a fixed amount of money in order to provide services to its citizens.

How do we move forward?

As Mayor of this fine community, I am instituting strong cost cutting measures including an annual municipal energy rate reduction of $380,000; water authority fire service reduction saving over $3 million over the next ten years; a $802,000 reduction, over four years, in cost saving reforms with municipal employee health, life and dental benefits.

I am also working with State and local officials to interconnect Derby’s water treatment plant with Ansonia, providing savings for our ratepayers from the state-mandated sewage treatment facility upgrade. 
Also moving forward, I am aggressively implementing a new economic development program to attract new business growth to Ansonia’s local economy and tax base, which will impact our Grand List, reducing the burden on our residents.

I encourage anyone who has additional questions to contact me directly at 203-736-5900.

This is a guest column.