Frequently Asked Questions

/ Todd Trimble

(Please note: This page is under construction!)

This page gives some quick answers to questions that people may have regarding the upcoming referendum, scheduled for June 26. More in-depth information can be obtained by clicking on the links indicated.

  • What is the budget increase over last year?

Under the latest budget proposal, the increase will be 2.06%. This is based on last year’s total town budget of $48,233,326 versus the current proposed $49,226,160. For a discussion of the breakdown of numbers, click here.

  • What is the tax increase over last year?

According to the Board of Finance, the tax increase will be 2.34%. This is based on last year’s total taxes of $47,577,482 versus the current projected amount of $48,688,556.

  • The tax rate increase is 2.34%, the mill rate increase is 7.1%.  Why the difference?

This year the average property was valued at 4.8% less than last year, and the mill rate reflects the difference between the new valuation and the tax increase.  But to be clear, the overall tax increase is 2.34%, not 7.1% or any other number.

  • If the tax rate increase is 2.34%, why will some people pay more or less than that?

During the revaluation of property that takes place once every five years, some people’s homes were valued at more or less than the average.  Those homes valued at more than the average will see a tax increase of more than 2.34%.  Those homes valued at less than the average will see a tax increase of less than 2.34%.

  • What is happening with the Senior Tax Credit?

The Senior Tax Credit is fully funded and not affected by this referendum.

  • How or why is the tax increase different from the budget increase?

Really it boils down to answering another question: what is the difference between the town budget and the town taxes? Note well that total taxes for property owners are historically less than budget amounts!

The budget or expenditure number (see the first bullet point) is just a starting point on the way to the bottom line of town property taxes. Along the way various other revenues and deficits are figured in, like State aid and the senior tax credit. The net difference between the budget amount (the top line) and the tax amount (the bottom line) is sometimes called the offset.

Click here to see a table that shows year-to-year comparisons of budgets, taxes, and offsets, from 2010-2011 to the present day. (The list of offsetting figures appears between Expenditure Total and To Be Raised By Taxes.) Missing from that table are data from the years 2014-2015, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017, but these can be accessed here.

  • What is the mill rate?

The mill rate under the current proposed budget is projected to be 31.7.

For an explanation of how the mill rate is defined and how it’s calculated, click here.

For a table of 2017-2018 mill rates and median tax bills of different towns in our DRG, click here.

  • How have the schools been affected by the latest budget reductions?

This question applies only to the Redding K-8 budget, since the Easton-Redding high school budget was approved on June 5. A summary may be found here (look under Cuts to schools).

A summary of budget cuts implemented after the May 8 referendum was given here (look under Impacts to staff and services). For a comprehensive summary of all school budget cuts and their consequences for 2018-2019 after the first referendum was rejected, click here (see the last five pages).