Frequently Asked Questions

A revaluation is the process of determining market values for all real property (real estate) in town. These values are derived by performing data collection, market analysis and valuation to determine accurate and equitable estimates for all properties within a municipality.

The Town of Voluntown contracted with eQuality to facilitate the State mandated revaluation. A combination of data mailers and field inspections are used to collect data and verify property information. Any changes made to property record cards will be updated for the October 1, 2024 Grand List. Appraisers then analyze local, real estate, market sales which are used to establish current market values.

• Assessment notices will be mailed in November 2024.
• Informal hearings with eQuality will be held from November 20 -26. Please follow the instructions on your assessment notice if you would like to schedule a hearing.
• Final notices will be mailed in January 2025 for any properties where assessments have changed due to an informal hearing.
• The deadline to file an appeal application with the Board of Assessment Appeals is February 20, 2025.
• The Board of Assessment Appeals meeting will be held in March 2025.
• The mill rate will be set in May 2025
• 2024 tax bills will be due in July 2025.

Fair market value is the most probable price which a property would sell for in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale.

Conditions of a fair sale:

• Buyer and Seller are typically motivated
• Both parties are well informed and are acting in their best interest(s)
• Reasonable time is allowed for exposure in the open market
• Payment is made in cash or its equivalent
• The price is unaffected by financing amounts or sales concessions

Market values are determined using analysis of the local real estate market. A single property sales transaction would not be the sole determination of a property's value.

The new assessment will take effect starting with the October 1, 2024 Grand List. These assessments will be used to calculate taxes due in July 2025 with a new mill rate to be determined in approximately May 2025.

No, not all property values will change at the same rate. Some properties may have been previously undervalued/overvalued or market values may have increased/decreased more for some property types than for others. Different types of properties within the same neighborhood may also show different value changes. For example, colonial style houses may be more in demand than ranch houses or vice versa. A few examples of factors that will cause values to differ are: location, condition, living area, dwelling quality, number of baths, basement finish and garages.

The assessed value is 70% of the fair market value established as of the October 1, 2024 Revaluation date.

If any property owner disagrees with or has questions regarding their new assessment, they should schedule an informal hearing. With eQuality using the instructions in their assessment notice.

An informal hearing is a phone meeting with eQuality where you can ask questions and express concerns about your new property assessment. This is not a forum to discuss taxes. Appraisers will take notes as to the property owners' concerns and specifics regarding their property. Each property that had an informal hearing will then be reviewed on an individual basis to determine if there is a change of value warranted. Homeowners will be notified of the results of their informal hearing in January 2024.

The property owner may then appeal their assessment with the Board of Assessment Appeals. Applications will be available from February 1, 2025 to February 20, 2025. All applications are due to be submitted to the Assessor's Office no later than February 20th 2025. The Board of Assessment Appeals meeting will be in March 2025.

The Board of Assessment Appeals is an official municipal board, independent of the Assessor, designed to serve as an appeal body for taxpayers who believe that their property is unfairly assessed. Members of the Board of Assessment Appeals are elected by town citizens, vacancies are filled by the Board of Selectman.

• When a Permit is not  Required for One and Two Family Residential Properties (PDF)
• When a Permit is not Required for Commercial and 3 or More Family Properties (PDF)

• Inspection Schedule (PDF)

How Do I Search for Building/Land Permit Records?

Property Split

https://www.axisgis.com/VoluntownCT/#

Drought conditions have contributed to instability of well water supply.

· High water use combined with low precipitation and snowmelt have reduced water resources in private wells.

· In Winter 2025, all of Connecticut was under a Stage 2 drought advisory, signaling an emerging drought that could affect water supply and natural resources.

· The location, geological makeup, and physical condition of a well also impact water levels.

A town water supply can support more development.

· Well capacity, space limitations, and land requirements can hinder development.

· The project aims to allow higher-density residential and commercial/mixed-use development, especially in the Village Center.

· Expanding development will create more housing options and business opportunities.

· Increased land use will benefit current and future residents and visitors

· More development will boost the town’s tax base, funding service expansions or property tax relief.

No. The Town’s study is focused only on two areas of high-density development – the Village Center area and the Bennett Road/Bennett Circle area of the Beach Pond neighborhood. The majority of the Town is a low-density area that is not under the same development pressure as these two areas.

· Village Center Residents & Businesses: The downtown area has limited development opportunities because of constraints on water and septic resources. Some buildings are distressed, and others have been abandoned and are unable to be rehabilitated.

· Beach Pond Homeowners: Opportunities for home renovation and expansion are limited in this neighborhood due to already crowded subsurface infrastructure. In addition, the geographical, geological and physical conditions of a well may also contribute to lower water levels, which means less water for the user.

Having a public water supply may:

· increase property values

· allow expansion and redevelopment

· reduce electricity use

· eliminate the need for private wells, which will enhance the reliability of water availability

If your property is not in one of the targeted areas, your property and your private well will not be affected.

At this point, the Town is simply doing a feasibility study to see what would be involved in setting up these two public water systems.

This study includes exploration of potential public well locations in each targeted area, in hopes of finding a suitable location with sufficient water quantities to supply their respective neighborhoods.

During the summer and fall of 2025, the Town will be doing some exploratory well-drilling in several locations. It appears that all well locations in Voluntown Village Center will be located on existing Town-owned property. Suitable sites for exploration are still being reviewed near Beach Pond. We hope for final reports by the end of the year.

At this time, no additional construction or establishment of public water systems is being actively considered. The results of the study and exploration will help identify costs and processes of ultimately constructing such a system.

There is no out-of-pocket cost to Voluntown for this planning study. This project is being paid through a $250,000 grant from the State of Connecticut through the “Community Investment Fund” program. That program also has funds available for construction projects, and if the Town decides to proceed, it will mostly likely seek additional grant funds for that purpose.

The Town recognizes that such a significant public infrastructure construction project will cost several million dollars and we will consider the financial impact to its taxpayers. Securing grant funds will be the first priority. A combination of grant funds and USDA-supported community grants and loans will be another potential consideration. It is highly unlikely that the Town would choose to construct these systems using only municipal funds.

Once installed (if the Town proceeds), the public water systems would likely be managed by Connecticut Water, the water utility assigned to Voluntown. Maintenance costs would be borne by system customers, just like any other utility.

More information about the project is available on our website: www.voluntown.gov/220/Community-Water-Study-Project