By The Milford Times

The Facebook Reaction

On the popular "You Know You Live in Milford" Facebook group, residents have been voicing their anxiety about the assessment notices arriving in their mailboxes.

"Just received my home assessment and not happy that it went up because that means my taxes will be going up," wrote Susan Gelormine Merrill. "I'm a senior and want to retire and not move. I checked to see if I qualify for a tax break and don't because I'm working still now that I am a widow to make ends meet. I think if they didn't build those monsterious million dollar houses behind me that it wouldn't have gone up the amount it did. I will have to fight this to stay where I am. I feel sorry for other people in my position."

Another resident, Joanne Czaplicki, noted: "Milford does Not give Seniors a tax break. I ask and she just laugh at me. Tough paying these high taxes on S.S."

But amid the frustration, one user attempted to inject some clarity into the discussion. Jason Baird wrote: "Can people learn how property taxes work? If your assessment goes up but so does everyone else's in town (town wide assessment), then your taxes will probably change but you can't say they will go up because of the reassessment. That's because your taxes are a function of your property value relative to others in town, not your value absolutely."

Is Jason Baird Right?

The short answer: Yes, he's largely correct—though the reality is nuanced.

Connecticut property taxes are calculated using a mill rate, where a mill equals $1.00 of tax for each $1,000 of assessment Connecticut DMV. In Connecticut, property values are assessed at 70% of their fair market value, and then the municipality's mill rate is applied to calculate the actual tax bill SmartAsset.

The key point Baird makes is that property taxes are relative, not absolute. When a municipality conducts a revaluation and all properties increase in value, the mill rate typically drops proportionally to prevent a windfall for the city.

Jennifer Lineaweaver, president of the Connecticut Association of Assessing Officers, explained that a substantial rise in a property's value doesn't necessarily mean the taxpayer will see a major increase in taxes, noting that when there's a broad-based rise in the Grand List, the tax rate typically drops, easing the blow to taxpayers Hartford Courant.

The formula is straightforward: Your property tax bill = (Assessed Value × Mill Rate) / 1,000.

So if your home's assessed value doubles but the mill rate is cut in half, your tax bill theoretically stays the same. The challenge comes when properties appreciate unevenly—if your home increases more than the town average, you'll likely pay more; if it increases less, you could pay less.

Why Are Assessments Going Up?

Milford is among more than 30 Connecticut municipalities completing revaluations in 2025, marking the end of the post-pandemic revaluation cycle CT Insider. The last full revaluation in Milford was based on the October 1, 2020 grand list—meaning current assessments reflect property values from five years ago.

Since 2020, Connecticut's housing market has experienced dramatic appreciation. Property tax consultant DMA Inc. reports that properties in Connecticut municipalities that underwent revaluation in 2024 saw an average increase of about 34% in assessed value DMA.

Some towns have seen even more dramatic increases. In Hamden, the assessed value of homes rose by an average of 55% following their 2025 revaluation New Haven Register. In Newington, analysis showed the average increase on the median market value of residential properties was 62% Hartford Courant.

Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett attributed the increases to pandemic-era housing market dynamics, explaining that homebuyers flooded Connecticut towns, often engaging in bidding wars that sent sale prices soaring well above asking prices, establishing new market rates that drove up property appraisals CT Mirror.

Milford has not been immune to these trends. Connecticut's average home value has surged to approximately $410,357 as of 2025, representing a growth of 8.6% compared to the previous year Steadily.

The Political Blame Game

Some residents have attempted to assign political blame for the increases. References to former Mayor Tony Giannattasio and the new Democratic mayor Rich Smith have appeared in online discussions, with some suggesting partisan responsibility.

However, the revaluation process is mandated by Connecticut state law, not local politicians. Connecticut General Statutes require each municipality to implement a revaluation not later than the first day of October and every five years thereafter Connecticut DMV. The timing and requirement are set by state law, not by mayors or local councils.

What local officials can control is the mill rate. Looking at Milford's mill rate history reveals recent increases: from 27.17 mills in 2022, to 29.14 in 2023, to 29.55 in 2024—an increase that occurred during the Giannattasio administration.

The 2026 mill rate—which will be applied to the new assessments—won't be set until spring 2026, when the city budget is adopted. That's when the true impact on tax bills will become clear.

Senior Tax Relief: The Reality

Multiple residents expressed frustration about the lack of senior tax relief in Milford, but this isn't entirely accurate. Milford does offer tax relief programs for seniors, though they come with significant limitations.

Milford's Code of Ordinances includes Section 20.5-6, which provides property tax relief for qualified elderly persons and totally disabled persons, though specific eligibility criteria apply eCode360.

More significantly, Connecticut state law provides a property tax credit program for property owners who are elderly (65 and over) or totally disabled, with annual incomes below certain limits, granting up to $1,250 for married couples and $1,000 for single persons based on a graduated income scale Connecticut DMV.

The catch? Income limits. Currently, the annual income limits for the state's circuit breaker program are $39,500 for married persons and $32,300 for singles, adjusted annually for inflation United Way of Connecticut.

This is where Susan Gelormine Merrill's situation becomes particularly challenging. She mentions she's still working as a widow to make ends meet—but this employment income likely disqualifies her from relief programs, even though she's working specifically because she needs the money.

Applications for these programs must be filed with the Assessor's Office between February 1 and May 15 each year.

What Can Residents Do?

Property owners who believe their assessments are inaccurate have several options:

Informal Hearings: Most municipalities open an informal appeal period lasting just 2-4 weeks after assessment notices are issued, offering the best opportunity to address errors or present additional information before values are finalized DMA.

Formal Appeals: Property owners wishing to challenge their assessment formally must file a written appeal with the local Board of Assessment Appeals by the February 20, 2026 statutory deadline Harris Beach Murtha.

Document Everything: Property owners should carefully review their assessment notices for errors in property characteristics—square footage, number of rooms, property features—and gather comparable sales data if challenging their valuation.

The Bigger Picture

While individual assessments may rise significantly, the overall impact on tax bills remains to be seen. The critical factor will be how the city adjusts the mill rate in response to the increased grand list.

If Milford follows the pattern of other Connecticut municipalities, the mill rate should decrease somewhat to offset assessment increases—though not necessarily enough to keep everyone's taxes flat, especially if the city budget also increases.

As one assessor noted, if the grand list goes up 45%, you can expect the mill rate to drop at a similar rate, because towns must have their budgets approved and can only spend what is approved Hartford Courant.

The Milford Assessor's Office can be reached at 203-783-3215 for questions about assessments. The deadline to file a formal appeal will be February 20, 2026.

For seniors seeking information about tax relief programs, applications and information are available at the Assessor's Office and must be filed between February 1 and May 15, 2026.

The Milford Times will continue to follow this story as the city moves forward with the 2025 revaluation process and the eventual setting of the 2026 mill rate.