Editorial: A legal victory with complications

The Connecticut Superior Court ruling Tuesday validated State Rep. John Santanella's complaint. This is a clear win, and allows him to avoid an August 11 Democratic primary against his challenger, former town attorney Tom Tyler. Tyler can appeal, but absent that, Santanella can shift his focus to November. But a winning legal outcome is not the same as a winning narrative outcome. This was an honest mistake by the Tyler campaign, a consequence of some flawed official guidance and a decision to rely on that guidance. The court found that the Democratic registrar provided petition sheets four days before state law allowed, and that the state-supplied forms lacked a legally required statement from circulators on the number of signatures gathered — a defect that invalidated all of Tyler's petitions. The ruling also notes that there was no evidence the Tyler campaign exercised due diligence to confirm the official guidance. Connecticut election law doesn't allow for honest mista...
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Enfield home values up 42%, but homeowners still don't know the number that matters

 

Slide from Town Council meeting June 15 2026


Enfield home values increased 42% since the last revaluation five years ago, according to data presented to the Town Council Monday night. That's a preliminary number based on sales to date. The town will continue reviewing property sales through the summer, which could change the percentage. 

The preliminary residential increase is not, by itself, the story. The story is whether Enfield's commercial and industrial sectors have appreciated enough to prevent another shift of the tax burden toward homeowners. The commercial value analysis is just starting, according to the town. Residents will get their new assessments mid-November. 

With revaluation, the mill rate drops to offset the higher grand list base, which includes the value of all taxable properties, including commercial and industrial. What determines whether homeowners actually pay more is the spread between residential and other sectors.

Residents were advised not the use the FY27 budget to calculate their tax liability. The revaluation will reset the mill rate, usually downward as the grand list increases.

If commercial and industrial come in at 16% (similar to some towns, according to the town's presentation), then the residential share of the grand list grows and the burden shifts onto homeowners even though the town collects the same total.

John Wilcox, the town's finance director, cited two communities with recent revaluations, Westport and Fairfield, which posted 60% and 64% residential increases respectively, but commercial increases of only about 16%.

The revaluation will affect next year's budget, fiscal year 2028, which will take effect July 1, 2027. The council recently adopted the fiscal year 2027 budget, which included a 5% tax hike. That budget year begins this July 1. 

FY2028 Budget Impact   

What revaluation means for the FY 2028 budget is this: If residential values rise substantially faster than commercial and industrial values, homeowners could see higher tax bills even if the town keeps spending flat. 

Wilcox told the charter commission last year that in the 2021 revaluation, residential values rose about 25% while commercial values rose about 8%.

One Enfield home shows how revaluation can raise a tax bill even when the town doesn't raise taxes.

In the last revaluation, this home's assessment rose 29.1%, from $109,940 to $141,900 — slightly faster than the roughly 25% average increase for residential property townwide. To offset those higher values, the town cut its mill rate sharply. Even so, the homeowner's annual tax bill climbed 5.6% in FY 2023, from $4,110 to $4,341 — an increase of $231.

While the loss of Enfield Square Mall and weakness in some office and retail properties may hurt commercial values, the town has also added warehouses, restaurants, and retail development. Until the commercial and industrial revaluation estimates are released, it remains impossible to know whether homeowners are facing a significant tax shift or if growth in other sectors will offset it.

Editor's note: This story was updated concerning the possibility that the residential property increase could change after summer home sales are included.


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