[BicoastalAnn]

Yes, it's another list! Thought you guys might find this interesting - no surprise NJ is worst but I was surprised CT fared worse than NY. Thoughts?

WalletHub: 2015’s States with the Highest and Lowest Property Taxes

[NewJeffCT]

NY has a lot of less valuable areas once you get outside the city and Westchester, driving down overall property taxes

[CTDex]

Originally Posted by BicoastalAnn

Yes, it's another list! Thought you guys might find this interesting - no surprise NJ is worst but I was surprised CT fared worse than NY. Thoughts?

WalletHub: 2015’s States with the Highest and Lowest Property Taxes

Not surprised. Another list where we rank as a high tax state.


Property taxes definitely need to be cut - drastically- especially in the cities where they are a high barrier to growth and development.

[FutureTown]

It's easy to cut property taxes but then that means schools along with teachers and your social departments like police and firefighters take a hit.

[CTDex]

Originally Posted by FutureTown

It's easy to cut property taxes but then that means schools along with teachers and your social departments like police and firefighters take a hit.

The wealthiest towns may be ok with it but how can the schools in the cities be any worse?? They will never be great as long as they are filled with the idiot children of ghetto bums and illegals.


Reducing taxes is one of the few ways to increase investment and bring the middle/professional class into them.

[NewJeffCT]

Originally Posted by CTDex

Not surprised. Another list where we rank as a high tax state.


Property taxes definitely need to be cut - drastically- especially in the cities where they are a high barrier to growth and development.

and then what? Does the state then supply more money to the towns & cities to make up for the lost dollars via property tax? CT has some of the best public schools in the country, even when you include Hartford, New Have, Bridgeport, Waterbury and the other poorly performing districts. Cut that funding without making up for it and you have to lay off teachers, pare down the curriculum, reduce sports and other extra-curricular activities and the like.

[CTDex]

Originally Posted by NewJeffCT

and then what? Does the state then supply more money to the towns & cities to make up for the lost dollars via property tax? CT has some of the best public schools in the country, even when you include Hartford, New Have, Bridgeport, Waterbury and the other poorly performing districts. Cut that funding without making up for it and you have to lay off teachers, pare down the curriculum, reduce sports and other extra-curricular activities and the like.

Lay some of them off- or at least put a moratorium on salary increases, etc... Having a few less teachers or programs isn't going to take a huge toll on the schools or quality of education. It should be done on a school by school basis but lower property taxes in the cities are necessary.


The benefits of redevelopment and attracting new businesses with lower taxes and cuts would likely outweigh any minors cuts.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by CTDex

Lay some of them off- or at least put a moratorium on salary increases, etc... Having a few less teachers or programs isn't going to take a huge toll on the schools or quality of education. It should be done on a school by school basis but lower property taxes in the cities are necessary.


The benefits of redevelopment and attracting new businesses with lower taxes and cuts would likely outweigh any minors cuts.

Sorry but it is not that easy. There are minimum standards that have to be met based on Federal and State law. Plus then you would be causing even more problems down the road with uneducated or under-educated children. How does that help? Jay

[CTDex]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Sorry but it is not that easy. There are minimum standards that have to be met based on Federal and State law. Plus then you would be causing even more problems down the road with uneducated or under-educated children. How does that help? Jay

Maybe not easy but it can be done slowly and steadily.

Many of these children are never going to get farther than cheap labor jobs and it's a waste of time and money to assume more. A basic high school education/reading writing is enough.

A large number are already graduating undereducated and no amount of training will remedy it.


They should start out by lowering property taxes and then figure out how much of the budget to be cut.

[NewJeffCT]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Sorry but it is not that easy. There are minimum standards that have to be met based on Federal and State law. Plus then you would be causing even more problems down the road with uneducated or under-educated children. How does that help? Jay

agreed - student/teacher ratio is one of the top indicators of school quality. Go through the top schools in the state vs the bottom and you'll find the Westports, Dariens and New Canaans have better ratios than Bridgeport, West Haven and East Haven.