Connecticut Senate Bill SB00973

Connecticut 2013 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/25/13
• Refer: 2/25/13

Caption

An Act Concerning Grants In Lieu Of Taxes For Ledyard And Montville.

Impact

If enacted, this bill will repeal subsection (h) of section 12-62 of the general statutes, which currently exempts certain tribal lands from being revalued for the purposes of property tax assessments. The bill will replace this provision, thus tying state reimbursements more closely to the actual value of properties as determined during local revaluation processes. This gear shift is expected to enhance the accuracy of funding allocated to Ledyard and Montville, aligning it more appropriately with their assessed property values.

Summary

SB00973 proposes amendments to the existing legislation regarding grants in lieu of taxes for the towns of Ledyard and Montville. The bill specifically seeks to adjust the state reimbursement to these municipalities based on the most recent property revaluations conducted by the towns. This change is aimed at ensuring that local governments receive fair compensation for the tax-exempt properties held by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes, whose lands have been taken into trust by the federal government.

Contention

One significant point of contention surrounding SB00973 is the balancing act between state and tribal interests. Some may argue that preserving the tax-exempt status of tribal lands is beneficial for the economic development of local tribal authorities while simultaneously limiting potential local revenue sources. The bill indicates a move towards increasing transparency and fairness in state funding distributions, which may face opposition from those who believe that it places additional burdens on the municipalities' tax bases without equivalent compensation from the state.