Connecticut House Bill HB05387

Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/21
• Refer: 1/22/21

Caption

An Act Concerning Agreements To Fix Assessments Between Municipalities And Certain Parties.

Impact

By empowering boards of selectmen to enter into agreements independently of town meetings, HB 05387 is expected to facilitate more efficient management of property assessments within municipalities. This flexibility may enhance local governance by enabling quicker decision-making and adapting to the needs of the community without waiting for a town meeting to convene. The bill signifies an effort to modernize and improve municipal management practices.

Summary

House Bill 05387 aims to amend section 12-65b of the general statutes to allow boards of selectmen in certain municipalities to enter into agreements to fix assessments. This change is particularly relevant for municipalities where the legislative body functions as a town meeting. Currently, such agreements can only be entered into during town meetings, which can be limiting and challenging for local governance. The bill seeks to streamline this process and provide more flexibility for municipal authorities.

Contention

While the bill is designed to empower local officials, there may be concerns among some community members regarding the shift of authority from town meetings to boards of selectmen. Critics might argue that it potentially diminishes direct community involvement in important decisions related to property assessments and taxation. Therefore, the bill might face scrutiny from those advocating for maintaining the traditional town meeting model, which allows for broader public participation.