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ATTENTION ALL NORWALK RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS By now you're probably aware of the astronomical increases in many of your tax assessments. And now comes the looming property tax increases, some as much as 20%-30%, an unsustainable amount TODAY for many residents, and an unfair burden on us all, due in part to a shift in property values between residential and commercial, and a long overdue need to reduce City and BOE costs.

This Monday, April 1st 2024, the Mayor and Members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) will meet to finalize the City budget that becomes the basis for 2024/2025 mil rates and property taxes citywide. If you agree that serious budget cuts are needed, along with a 4-year assessment phase-in, PLEASE add your name to this petition asap - it will be submitted to Mayor Rilling and the BET on Monday morning. Share the petition link with your neighbors and Norwalk friends... and urge them to sign and then tune in via zoom or in person to observe the BET deliberation and their vote.

There IS STILL TIME to course correct, but only if residents speak out NOW and urge the City to take the measures requested below. Please read and sign. And thank you. (Visit BET city web page for links to minutes and videos of recent BET meetings and hearing)

PETITION TO MAYOR RILLING and THE BOARD OF ESTMATE & TAXATION

TO: Mayor Harry W. Rilling and The Board of Estimate and Taxation

Subject: Petition to Reduce City and BOE Spending and Phase-In Property Assessment Increases

Dear Mayor Rilling and Members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation,

We, the undersigned residents and taxpayers of the City of Norwalk write to express concerns about continually rising residential property taxes in our community. As homeowners, we appreciate the need to fund essential services and maintain infrastructure, however there is a pressing need to mitigate the increasingly unsustainable tax burden. The need is especially acute this year with the revaluation and weakness in the commercial property market. The City must take all available measures to give homeowners meaningful relief.

We are following the BET’s deliberations and ask you to take the following actions:

• IMPLEMENT A FOUR YEAR PHASE-IN of individual property assessment increases. It is unacceptable to face a 20+% tax increase when the state provides the option to phase-in the increase. The step increase is too large and could create immediate financial distress for many households.
• PASS A FLAT EXPENSE BUDGET FOR FY 2025. Do not exacerbate the pain of higher property taxes by increasing spending. Tighten the City and BOE’s belts along with the residents. Reduce unnecessary spending and rollback headcount and budgets to earlier years. We believe expenses can be trimmed without compromising essential services or quality of life. Several residents have proposed cuts in less essential services like, Business Development and Tourism, Economic & Community Development, Transportation, Mobility and Parking. Implement recommendations of the efficiency study such as merging duplicate departments between the City and BOE. Savings can be achieved without sacrificing basic and necessary services.
• SET A SUSTAINABLE BUDGET BY STARTING TO REDUCE THE DEBT AS OPPOSED TO DRAINING THE RAINY DAY FUND

Further, we call for all BET meetings to be open for public comment. By working together as a community, we can find creative solutions to lower residential property taxes without compromising essential services and quality of life.

We respectfully request you take immediate action to PHASE-IN the assessment increase over 4 years AND pass a FLAT expense budget for FY 2025.

We believe these are crucial steps to ensure a more equitable and sustainable future for all residents. Thank you for hearing our concerns and taking action.