Connecticut town will cut taxable home values 35% after revaluation shook budgets

A town-wide revaluation that drove up assessed property values in Stratford, Connecticut, is being followed by property tax relief for homeowners.

The town says eligible owner-occupied homes will receive a 35% reduction in the assessed value used to calculate taxes, the highest exemption permitted under Connecticut law.

Here's what to know

Rather than proceed with a previously planned phase-in, Stratford's Town Council approved the "Limited Homestead Property Tax Exemption" to lower the tax burden on qualifying owner-occupied homes, according to Patch. Qualifying homeowners will first see the change on tax bills due July 1, 2027.

Officials said the ordinance does not apply retroactively to taxes already paid.

Town Council Chairman Anthony Afriyie said the action was meant to address the disconnect between higher on-paper home values and what residents can realistically afford.

"Revaluation changed the numbers on paper for many Stratford homeowners, but it didn't necessarily change how much money they have coming in each month," Afriyie said in a news release, per Patch. "For families and seniors on tight budgets across and residents living on fixed incomes, a significant increase in assessed value can create real financial pressure. We took that seriously."

The exemption applies to single-family homes, condominiums, and the owner-occupied portion of two-family homes. To qualify, the home must be the owner's primary residence and be occupied by that owner for more than 183 days each year. There is no income limit.

Still, several rules narrow who can receive the benefit. Owners must have held the property by Oct. 1, 2026; taxes cannot be delinquent; and properties titled to an LLC, partnership, S-corporation, or C-corporation do not qualify.

More background

Following revaluation, the ordinance changes which properties will carry more of Stratford's tax burden.

Council members considered how to provide homeowner relief while still covering the cost of schools, public safety, roads, and other essential town services.

Afriyie said that trade-off was at the heart of the council's decision.

"We wanted to make sure we understood both the benefits and the trade-offs before taking action," he said, according to Patch. "This exemption reduces the portion of a qualifying home's assessed value that is subject to property taxes. Because the Town still has to fund schools, public safety, roads, and other essential services, the change also affects how the overall property tax burden is distributed. A greater share will fall on the remaining taxable property base, including commercial properties and homes that are not owner-occupied."

The policy could make it easier for seniors, fixed-income residents, and other owner-occupants to remain in their homes, while shifting more pressure onto the rest of Stratford's tax base.

The exemption was adopted as Ordinance #26-15 pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-81oo. The program is scheduled to remain in effect until Stratford's next town-wide revaluation in 2029.

Mayor David Chess said the ordinance is meant to help longtime residents remain in Stratford.

"No one should be priced out of the home they've worked a lifetime to keep," Chess said. "Rising values are a sign of Stratford's untapped potential, but that success can't come at the expense of the neighbors who built this town. The Council took real action to keep Stratford homeowners in their homes. I'm grateful to every member who voted for this relief. Now let's get to work making sure every eligible homeowner returns their attestation form by December 31."

What's being done?

The Tax Assessor's Office has sent Homestead Exemption Attestation of Eligibility forms to owners of property types that may qualify.

Owners must mail or submit completed forms by Dec. 31, 2026, with no exceptions.

Applicants must sign the form in ink and provide the first page of their federal tax return as proof the home is their primary residence, though financial information may be blacked out. Properties held in trust may also qualify, but the trust agreement must be submitted for review. Applications sent by email or fax will be rejected.

Residents will learn whether they qualify through assessment notices scheduled to be mailed in February 2027, because the office expects a high volume of applications.

The office is also offering expanded assistance hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays in October from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., along with Saturday hours on Nov. 7 and Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Submitted documents will be stored in locked cabinets in a restricted-access area of Town Hall. Because they include personally identifiable information, those records are exempt from disclosure under Freedom of Information law.

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