House Republican Press Release

May 12, 2004

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. DelGobbo Opposes Delay in Revaluations

Says Lengthy Postponement Creates Greater Pain for Homeowners

NAUGATUCK—State Representative Kevin M. DelGobbo (R-70^th, Naugatuck) opposed a provision in a state budget bill that allows municipalities to delay townwide and citywide property revaluations for three years.

Rep. DelGobbo said past postponements in Waterbury and Naugatuck have driven away businesses and created extraordinary shocks from large residential tax increases when towns and cities inevitably implement the revaluations.

If the results of a revaluation are questionable, he said, municipalities have the existing options of phasing-in or temporarily putting them off to fix any technical issues.

“A delay has been described as relief for municipalities,” Rep. DelGobbo said during last night’s House debate. “I have lived through that issue for many, many, many years. I saw what ‘relief’ did for my community and for neighboring Waterbury.”

He said, “Not only did delay drive businesses out because they were paying a greater share of the property taxes, but when the delay came to an end there was a tremendous shift to homeowners. They ended up being hit hard all at one time. People ended up crashing on the rocks and are still recovering.”

“The elderly homeowners and working families were especially hard hit, and they are still struggling to pay their sharply higher property taxes,” Rep. DelGobbo added.

Rep. DelGobbo said it was wrong to make this exception in state revaluation laws and that towns and homeowners ultimately benefit from keeping assessments current, “as difficult as that is.” The measure, however, passed the House and Senate and the governor is expected to sign it into law.

State Rep. Kevin DelGobbo serves the 70^th Assembly District of Naugatuck in the state House of Representatives.