Letter: 'Increased Property Taxes Are a Train Wreck'

Over the past year I have read the many articles on the town of  Fairfield’s overspending on this, that or the other thing. It’s outrageous! The resulting tax increases end up forcing  60-plus-year-olds like me right out of town. I am a local builder who had very little work in 2008. Currently, I have 2 sons who attended the Fairfield public school system and are, thankfully, employed. I thought these would be my better years, my retirement years, Fat Chance!   Most of my friends are in the same boat. 

My property taxes went up an astounding 35% in the re-assessment! It is my understanding that everyone who lives on or even near the water got hit hard with the new assessments. Homes like mine in the Lake Hills Association area, beach homes starting with the Post Rd and continuing south to the water and homes on Pine Creek Rd., etc. While the rest of the town’s property owners either stayed the same or got a reduction in their new tax bill.

If property taxes continue to increase here is what will happen…. People like me who are NOT currently using the education system and are paying solely for the use of town services like Police, Fire, town beaches, Lake Mohegan, library, dump,  etc. will and ARE MOVING OUT. Selling their beautiful homes to people with families.  Living directly on the lake, I can get a good price for my house and move to a town further up the line, still be on a lake and pay MUCH LESS for the home and property taxes. The family of 5 who would most likely buy my house would have 2 adults and 3 kids. Sound nice so far?

Well, here is the train wreck. I’m paying $16,000 in taxes under the new assessment and I am NOT using the town’s services to any great degree -- maybe a false burglar alarm now and then where the police come to check things out (and if I do this one too many times I have to pay a nuisance fee).  A family of 5 with 3 children will be using the school system at a cost of $14,000 per child (according to the State of CT and Fairfield Public School web sites) that is a total of $42,000! However, they will only be paying into the town $16,000 in property taxes while using $42,000 in education spending.  The net shortfall to the town’s coffers is $26,000! Thus, my moving out COST YOU, THE REMAING TAX PAYERS. The rest of you have to make up this difference.  

So, the bottom line is this. Taxpayers over 60 nearing retirement, seniors on a fixed income, singles struggling to get ahead or empty nesters moving out of town is a train wreck. It is already happening. Let’s prevent this. We the People and Fairfield for Good Government are having their next meeting at the Scandinavian Club (on South Pine Creed Rd), Thursday, October 11   at 7 pm.  Mike Tetreau, our First Selectman will be speaking about senior tax relief. He personally believes that no senior should be forced out of Fairfield because of their taxes. Please come, Mr Tetreau needs and wants to hear your concerns. Now is the time to take a stand.

If you would like to attend this event which is free and open to everyone email your reservation to wtpfairfield@gmail.com

Bob Forcellina