FAQ

Finance

  1. What is a fiscal year (FY)?
    This period of time encompasses two calendar years.  For example, we are currently in FY 2022 which goes from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.
     
  2. What is the Town’s current Operating Budget?
    The FY 2022 General Fund adopted budget is $127,966,788
     
  3. What is the Town’s mill rate?
    It is 37.86 for the October 1, 2020 Grand List.  This Grand List year and mill rate were used to bill and collect taxes during FY 2022.
     
  4. Where can I find the Town’s financial documents? 
    The Annual Financial Report (CAFR), Federal and State single audits, Annual Budget and Official Statements can be found on the Town’s website at https://www.southwindsor-ct.gov/finance-department/pages/budget-reports.


Collector of Revenue

  1. What is a Mill Rate and how is it determined? 
    The Grand Levy is the amount of revenue in the Annual Town Budget, which must be raised by the property tax. The balance required is received from fees, state and federal assistance and miscellaneous revenue. The Grand List is a listing of all taxable properties located within the Town on October 1, of the grand list year. The tax rate is determined by dividing the Grand Levy by the Grand List.

    The property tax rate is expressed in mills or thousandths of a dollar. A tax rate (mill rate) of 37.86 mills is equivalent to $37.86 of taxes per $1,000 of assessed value.
     
  2. What is the current mill rate?
    South Windsor current mill rate for the October 1, 2020 Grand List is 37.86
     
  3. How is the tax amount determined?
    The mill rate is multiplied by the assessed value of the property to determine the tax amount.  For example if your property is assessed at $100,000, and the mill rate is 37.86, you multiply $100,000 x .03786 = $3,786.00. 

    Any questions on your property assessment should be directed to the Tax Assessor's Office (860) 644-2511 ext. 312.
     
  4. When are taxes due and what period does it cover? When are bills mailed?
    Motor vehicle taxes are due July 1 for vehicles on the Grand List as of October 1 of the previous year. Bills are mailed the last week of June.  Supplemental Motor Vehicle bills are mailed in December, due January 1.

    Real Estate and Personal Property taxes more than $100.00 are due in two equal installments. The first installment is due July 1 and the second installment is due January 1. All taxes under $100.00 are payable in a single installment July 1.
    Real Estate taxes cover from July 1 through June 30 of each fiscal year, and are based on the previous October 1 assessment on the property.

    Motor Vehicle taxes and Personal Property taxes cover from October 1st of the Grand List year through the following September 30th
     
  5. What is a Supplemental Motor Vehicle Tax Bill?
    Supplemental motor vehicle tax is due January 1 and payable by February 1.  A supplemental motor vehicle bill is issued when a vehicle is registered after October 1, for example if a vehicle is purchased in December of 2018, a supplemental tax bill covering the months from December 2018 through September 2019, will be due in January 2020.
     
  6. What if I never received a bill? What is the interest?
    Connecticut General Statue 12-130 states.….“failure to receive a bill does not invalidate the tax….” If you fail to receive your tax bill, please contact the tax office (860) 644-2511 ext. 321. Failure to receive a tax bill does not exempt taxes or interest. You are responsible for obtaining your tax bill and paying the taxes on time. Payment must be made by the due date, whether or not you receive a bill.  Interest is assessed at an annual rate of 18% with a minimum charge of $2.00 per account.
     
  7. What collection tools are available if an account is delinquent?
    Once an account is delinquent and a Tax Demand Notice and/or an Intent to Lien Notice has been issued the following tools are available:  Alias Tax Warrant, Collection Agency, Denial of Motor Vehicle Registration or Renewal by DMV, Tax Lien Assignment, Tax Lien Sale, Bank Executions or Levies and the withholding of a building permit, license or permit to operate a business.

Fiscal Year 2019/2020 Collection Rate

2018 Grand List Data             99.31%

2019 Commercial Sewer        100 %

2020 Residential Sewer          97.64%


Assessor

  1. What is Revaluation and when is the next one scheduled for the Town of South Windsor? 
    The Town of South Windsor last conducted Revaluation for the October 1, 2017 grand list and according to current CGS would next revalue all real property, using mass appraisal methodology for the October 1, 2022 grand list.  This five year cycle is designed to bring all assessments current with the real estate market at the time of the Revaluation. Mass Appraisal uses local, qualified sales to determine market models.

  2. What is the assessment rate?
    All property is assessed at 70% of Fair Market Value as determined by cost, sales or income approach to market value depending upon property classification.

  3. Who should file the annual Personal Property Declaration?
    Anyone in possession of assets on October 1 or having had assets in South Windsor for three months prior to October 1st who has either a proprietorship, partnership, corporation or is a self-employed agent or contractor, must file each year. Business owners who lease, loan, or rent equipment must also file.  A step by step tutorial can be found on the Assessors webpage.  

  4. What is Personal Property?
    Personal Property is everything other than real estate that has value by itself. It would include things such as: furniture, non-registered motor vehicles, signs, leasehold improvements, vending machines, leased equipment, tools, machinery, and any other equipment used in a business or to earn income. Personal property such as computer software, inventory for sale, residential furnishings, clothing and jewelry is not taxable. Unregistered or out of state registered vehicles located in Connecticut are also considered Personal Property.

  5. Who is eligible for a Veteran’s Exemption

    1. Veterans with an Honorable Discharge 

    2. Minimum of 90 days in combat-era service as determined by CGS

    3. Possession of DD-214, recorded with the Town Clerk.

    4. Veterans having a disability rating of at least 10% from the Office of Veteran’s Affairs are eligible for additional benefits

  6. The Town’s current grand list totals and top ten taxpayers are available on the website.
    You can view the Town Grand List by clicking this link.
     
  7. What Assessor department information/data is available on-line?
     
    1. Parcel data including property location, amount of land, construction details of improvements as well as appraised and assessment values can be found on-line;
       
    2. GIS parcel shapes showing properties location in proximity to others in the area.  The Assessor’s office is working in conjunction with IT toward consistent, weekly, automated updates of all on-line data resources for the convenience of taxpayers and their agents. 
       
    3. For the last two years on-line Personal Property declaration filing has been available as a resource and benefit for the business community.
       
  8. Homeowner benefits based on income can be applied for at Human Services between February 1 – May 14th annually.
     
  9. Public Act 490 applications to classify eligible land as farm or forest can be found in the documents section of the Assessors department page.