Town Council sets mill rate

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ProspectBushPROSPECT — The town has a new mill rate in place heading into the 2013-14 fiscal year.

The Town Council set the mill rate at 28.08 mills, an increase of 0.5 mills over the current year’s rate, last Wednesday.

The mill rate is the amount of taxes payable on the assessed value of a home. One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value.

Under the new mill rate a home assessed at $150,000 will pay $4,212, an increase of $75 over the current year’s taxes.

The mill rate includes both the town’s budget and town’s portion of the budget for Region 16, which covers schools in Prospect and Beacon Falls.

Mayor Robert Chatfield said the town’s budget is responsible for approximately 25 percent of the overall budget, while the Region 16’s budget is responsible for 75 percent of the overall budget.

Voters approved a $7.3 million town budget for next fiscal year that will increase spending by 4.3 percent at a referendum June 10.

Eight days later Region 16’s $38.5 million budget, an increase of 3.2 percent or about $1.2 million, was approved at a referendum.

Both budgets were sent to three referendums before they passed.

Chatfield said he understands that the nation is going through difficult financial times, but the town still has to take care of its citizens.

“I’m fully aware that things are very difficult these days and nobody likes to pay taxes,” Chatfield said. “However, the town does have responsibilities.”

Chatfield said he appreciates everybody being involved in the budget process and promises to continue to be fiscally responsible with the town’s money.

“I will watch your nickels and dimes like they’re my own,” Chatfield said.

The tax office received the tax bills on Monday and has begun sorting them to mail to residents.

“They take great pains in putting all a household’s bills in one envelope to save on postage,” Chatfield said.