Westbrook Honors Town Staff with Two Decades of Service
The Town of Westbrook, in a program sponsored by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, recognized municipal employees who have worked 20 years or more.
Head of Downtown Agency Stepping Down
The head of the Connecticut agency charged with supporting downtown revitalization across the state is resigning from the post after four years.
Soaring Home Sales Leave Revaluation Questions
With urbanites relocating in Connecticut due to COVID-19, home sales have soared, leaving residents in the 34 towns and cities going through revaluation wondering how property values will impact their taxes.
Sticker shock: Connecticut taxpayers hit with unexpectedly higher taxes on vehicles that became pricier in the pandemic
Connecticut taxpayers are taking another hit, this time from vehicle taxes due this summer.
New and used cars are in high demand and short supply, the perfect conditions for rising prices that boost taxes on which vehicle values are based.
State and Local Legal Center Listserv: New Jersey Loses State Sovereignty Pipeline Case
In PennEast Pipeline v. New Jersey the U.S. Supreme Court held 5-4 that the federal government may constitutionally grant pipeline companies the authority to condemn necessary rights-of-way in which a state has an interest. Pipeline companies likewise may sue states to obtain the rights-of-way. The State and Local Legal Center (SLLC) filed an amicus brief asking for the Court to reach the opposite conclusion.
“Shared Risk,” Shared Pain Pensions Pitched
Gordon Hamlin offered a trigger warning before making his pitch for a “shared risk” solution to the city’s underfunded public pensions.
“There’s something in this proposal for everyone to love,” Hamlin advised, “and there’s something in this proposal for everyone to hate.”
State and Local Legal Center Listserv: Supreme Court to Decide First Amendment Billboard Case
The City of Austin allows on-premises billboards to be digitized but not off-premises billboards. In City of Austin, Texas v. Reagan National Advertising of Texas Inc. two outdoor advertising companies claim that this distinction is "content-based" under the First Amendment. The City of Austin disagrees.
Tourism Chief Sees Booming Summer
A mixture of caution and restlessness will turn Connecticut into a booming travel destination this summer, predicts Connecticut Interim Director of Tourism Christine Castonguay.
CCM assessment on 2021 state legislative session and priorities for special session
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities today (Thursday, June 10) expressed its gratitude to the Governor and General Assembly for the significant increases in state aid to municipalities that were enacted this session — overall a $191 million hike for next fiscal year and a $237 million increase for the following fiscal year. This will go a long way toward restraining property taxes for residents and businesses in our 169 towns and cities, as well as maintain critical local services.
Veteran City Manager Sees Need For Revenue Diversification
In order to understand local government, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist, but a masters or a doctorate in public administration might help.
Roger Kemp knows about that.