General Assembly

 

Substitute Bill No. 1

    January Session, 2015

 

*_____SB00001FIN___043015____*

AN ACT CONCERNING TAX FAIRNESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2016) (a) For purposes of this section, "state, municipal or tribal property" means all real property described in subsection (a) of section 12-19a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, "college and hospital property" means all real property described in subsection (a) of section 12-20a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, "municipality" means any town, city, borough, consolidated town and city and consolidated town and borough, and "district" means any district, as defined in section 7-324, of the general statutes.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 12-19a and 12-20a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, all funds appropriated for state grants in lieu of taxes shall be payable to municipalities and districts pursuant to the provisions of this section. For fiscal years commencing on and after July 1, 2016, all state grants in lieu of property taxes for state, municipal or tribal property and college and hospital property shall be such that each municipality or district shall receive a grant in lieu of taxes in an amount equal to or greater than that paid to the municipality or district pursuant to sections 12-19a and 12-20a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014. On or before January first, annually, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall determine the amount due, as a state grant in lieu of taxes, to each municipality and district in this state wherein college and hospital property is located and to each municipality in this state wherein state, municipal or tribal property, except that which was acquired and used for highways and bridges, but not excepting property acquired and used for highway administration or maintenance purposes, is located. (1) The grant payable to any municipality for state, municipal or tribal property under the provisions of this section in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2016, and each fiscal year thereafter shall be equal to the total of:

(A) One hundred per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid with respect to any facility designated by the Commissioner of Correction, on or before August first of each year, to be a correctional facility administered under the auspices of the Department of Correction or a juvenile detention center under direction of the Department of Children and Families that was used for incarcerative purposes during the preceding fiscal year. If a list containing the name and location of such designated facilities and information concerning their use for purposes of incarceration during the preceding fiscal year is not available from the Secretary of the State on August first of any year, the Commissioner of Correction shall, on said date, certify to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management a list containing such information;

(B) One hundred per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid with respect to that portion of the John Dempsey Hospital located at The University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington that is used as a permanent medical ward for prisoners under the custody of the Department of Correction. Nothing in this section shall be construed as designating any portion of The University of Connecticut Health Center John Dempsey Hospital as a correctional facility;

(C) One hundred per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid on any land designated within the 1983 Settlement boundary and taken into trust by the federal government for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on or after June 8, 1999;

(D) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of section 12-19a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, sixty-five per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid with respect to the buildings and grounds comprising Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown;

(E) With respect to any municipality in which more than fifty per cent of the property is state-owned real property, one hundred per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid with respect to such state-owned property;

(F) Forty-five per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid with respect to all municipally owned airports; except for the exemption applicable to such property, on the assessment list in such municipality for the assessment date two years prior to the commencement of the state fiscal year in which such grant is payable. The grant provided pursuant to this section for any municipally owned airport shall be paid to any municipality in which the airport is located, except that the grant applicable to Sikorsky Airport shall be paid one-half to the town of Stratford and one-half to the city of Bridgeport;

(G) Forty-five per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid with respect to any land designated within the 1983 Settlement boundary and taken into trust by the federal government for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation prior to June 8, 1999, or taken into trust by the federal government for the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, provided the real property subject to this subparagraph shall be the land only, and shall not include the assessed value of any structures, buildings or other improvements on such land; and

(H) Forty-five per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid with respect to all other state-owned real property.

(2) (A) The grant payable to any municipality or district for college and hospital property under the provisions of this section in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2016, and each fiscal year thereafter shall be equal to the total of seventy-seven per cent of the property taxes that, except for any exemption applicable to any institution of higher education or general hospital facility under the provisions of section 12-81 of the general statutes, would have been paid with respect to college and hospital property on the assessment list in such municipality or district for the assessment date two years prior to the commencement of the state fiscal year in which such grant is payable; and

(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, the grant payable to any municipality or district with respect to a campus of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare Systems shall be one hundred per cent.

(c) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall list municipalities and districts based on the percentage of real property on the grand list of each municipality that is exempt from property tax under any provision of the general statutes other than that set forth in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section. Such tax exempt property shall not include municipally owned property except for municipally owned airports. Boroughs and districts shall have the same ranking as the municipality in which such borough or district is located.

(d) (1) In the event that the total of grants payable to each municipality and district in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section exceeds the amount appropriated for the purposes of this section for the fiscal year, (A) the amount of the grant payable to each municipality in any year for property described in subparagraphs (A) to (G), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section and to each municipality or district in any year for property described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section shall be reduced proportionately, provided no such grant shall be reduced to an amount less than that received by a municipality or district for such property pursuant to section 12-19a or 12-20a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014; (B) the amount of the grant payable to each municipality or district in any year for property described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section shall be reduced as follows, provided no such grant shall be reduced to an amount less than that received by a municipality or district for such property pursuant to section 12-20a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014: (i) The ten municipalities or districts with the highest percentage of tax exempt property on the list of municipalities prepared by the secretary pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and having a mill rate of twenty-five mills or more shall each receive a grant in lieu of taxes equal to forty-two per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid to such municipality or district on college and hospital property other than that set forth in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section; (ii) the next twenty-five municipalities or districts with the highest percentage of tax exempt property on such list having a mill rate of twenty-five mills or more shall each receive a grant in lieu of taxes equal to thirty-seven per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid to such municipality or district on college and hospital property other than that set forth in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section; and (iii) all municipalities or districts not included in subparagraphs (B)(i) and (B)(ii) of this subdivision shall each receive a grant in lieu of taxes equal to thirty-two per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid to such municipality or district on college and hospital property other than that set forth in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section; and (C) the amount of the grant payable to each municipality in any year for property described in subparagraph (H) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section shall be reduced as follows, provided no such grant shall be reduced to an amount less than that received by a municipality for such property pursuant to section 12-19a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014: (i) The ten municipalities with the highest percentage of tax exempt property on the list of municipalities prepared by the secretary pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and having a mill rate of twenty-five mills or more shall each receive a grant in lieu of taxes equal to thirty-two per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid to such municipality for property described in subparagraph (H) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section; (ii) the next twenty-five municipalities with the highest percentage of tax exempt property on such list having a mill rate of twenty-five mills or more shall each receive a grant in lieu of taxes equal to twenty-eight per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid to such municipality for property described in subparagraph (H) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section; and (iii) all municipalities not included in subparagraphs (C)(i) and (C)(ii) of this subdivision shall each receive a grant in lieu of taxes equal to twenty-four per cent of the property taxes that would have been paid to such municipality for property described in subparagraph (H) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section.

(2) If the amount appropriated for the purposes of subsection (b) of this section is less than the total of grants payable to each municipality and district in accordance with subsection (b) of this section but exceeds the amount necessary to issue grants to each municipality and district in an amount equal to that received by each such municipality or district pursuant to section 12-19a or 12-20a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014, for property described in subparagraphs (A) to (G), inclusive, of subdivision (1) and subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section plus the amount of grants payable pursuant to subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, then each grant payable to a municipality or district in accordance with this section shall be increased proportionately to the amount received by each municipality or district pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of this section, for any municipality receiving payments under section 15-120ss of the general statutes, property located in such municipality at Bradley International Airport shall not be included in the calculation of any state grant in lieu of taxes pursuant to this section.

(f) For purposes of this section, any real property which is owned by the John Dempsey Hospital Finance Corporation established pursuant to the provisions of sections 10a-250 to 10a-263, inclusive, of the general statutes or by one or more subsidiary corporations established pursuant to subdivision (13) of section 10a-254 of the general statutes and which is free from taxation pursuant to the provisions of section 10a-259 of the general statutes shall be deemed to be state-owned real property.

(g) The Office of Policy and Management shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding, on or before July 1, 2017, and on or before July first annually thereafter until July 1, 2020, with regard to the grants distributed in accordance with this section, and shall include in such reports any recommendations for changes in the grants.

Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 12-19a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2015):

(a) [On] Until the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2016, on or before January first, annually, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall determine the amount due, as a state grant in lieu of taxes, to each town in this state wherein state-owned real property, reservation land held in trust by the state for an Indian tribe or a municipally owned airport, except that which was acquired and used for highways and bridges, but not excepting property acquired and used for highway administration or maintenance purposes, is located. The grant payable to any town under the provisions of this section in the state fiscal year commencing July 1, 1999, and each fiscal year thereafter, shall be equal to the total of (1) (A) one hundred per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to any facility designated by the Commissioner of Correction, on or before August first of each year, to be a correctional facility administered under the auspices of the Department of Correction or a juvenile detention center under direction of the Department of Children and Families that was used for incarcerative purposes during the preceding fiscal year. If a list containing the name and location of such designated facilities and information concerning their use for purposes of incarceration during the preceding fiscal year is not available from the Secretary of the State on the first day of August of any year, said commissioner shall, on said first day of August, certify to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management a list containing such information, (B) one hundred per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to that portion of the John Dempsey Hospital located at The University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington that is used as a permanent medical ward for prisoners under the custody of the Department of Correction. Nothing in this section shall be construed as designating any portion of The University of Connecticut Health Center John Dempsey Hospital as a correctional facility, and (C) in the state fiscal year commencing July 1, 2001, and each fiscal year thereafter, one hundred per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid on any land designated within the 1983 Settlement boundary and taken into trust by the federal government for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on or after June 8, 1999, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, sixty-five per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to the buildings and grounds comprising Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown. Such grant shall commence with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2000, and continuing each year thereafter, (3) notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, with respect to any town in which more than fifty per cent of the property is state-owned real property, one hundred per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to such state-owned property. Such grant shall commence with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and continuing each year thereafter, (4) subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, forty-five per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to all other state-owned real property, (5) forty-five per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to all municipally owned airports; except for the exemption applicable to such property, on the assessment list in such town for the assessment date two years prior to the commencement of the state fiscal year in which such grant is payable. The grant provided pursuant to this section for any municipally owned airport shall be paid to any municipality in which the airport is located, except that the grant applicable to Sikorsky Airport shall be paid half to the town of Stratford and half to the city of Bridgeport, and (6) forty-five per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to any land designated within the 1983 Settlement boundary and taken into trust by the federal government for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation prior to June 8, 1999, or taken into trust by the federal government for the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, provided (A) the real property subject to this subdivision shall be the land only, and shall not include the assessed value of any structures, buildings or other improvements on such land, and (B) said forty-five per cent grant shall be phased in as follows: (i) In the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2012, an amount equal to ten per cent of said forty-five per cent grant, (ii) in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2013, thirty-five per cent of said forty-five per cent grant, (iii) in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014, sixty per cent of said forty-five per cent grant, (iv) in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2015, eighty-five per cent of said forty-five per cent grant, and (v) in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2016, one hundred per cent of said forty-five per cent grant.

Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 12-20a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2015):

(a) [On] Until the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2016, on or before January first, annually, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall determine the amount due to each municipality in the state, in accordance with this section, as a state grant in lieu of taxes with respect to real property owned by any private nonprofit institution of higher learning or any nonprofit general hospital facility or freestanding chronic disease hospital or an urgent care facility that operates for at least twelve hours a day and that had been the location of a nonprofit general hospital for at least a portion of calendar year 1996 to receive payments in lieu of taxes for such property, exclusive of any such facility operated by the federal government, except a campus of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare Systems, or the state of Connecticut or any subdivision thereof. As used in this section, "private nonprofit institution of higher learning" means any such institution, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-34, or any independent institution of higher education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, that is engaged primarily in education beyond the high school level, and offers courses of instruction for which college or university-level credit may be given or may be received by transfer, the property of which is exempt from property tax under any of the subdivisions of section 12-81; "nonprofit general hospital facility" means any such facility that is used primarily for the purpose of general medical care and treatment, exclusive of any hospital facility used primarily for the care and treatment of special types of disease or physical or mental conditions; and "freestanding chronic disease hospital" means a facility that provides for the care and treatment of chronic diseases, excluding any such facility having an ownership affiliation with and operated in the same location as a chronic and convalescent nursing home.

Sec. 4. Section 12-19b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(a) Not later than April first in any assessment year, any town or borough to which a grant is payable under the provisions of section 12-19a, as amended by this act, or section 1 of this act, shall provide the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management with the assessed valuation of the real property eligible therefor as of the first day of October immediately preceding, adjusted in accordance with any gradual increase in or deferment of assessed values of real property implemented in accordance with section 12-62c, which is required for computation of such grant. Any town which neglects to transmit to the secretary the assessed valuation as required by this section shall forfeit two hundred fifty dollars to the state, provided the secretary may waive such forfeiture in accordance with procedures and standards adopted by regulation in accordance with chapter 54. Said secretary may on or before the first day of August of the state fiscal year in which such grant is payable, reevaluate any such property when, in the secretary's judgment, the valuation is inaccurate and shall notify such town of such reevaluation by certified or registered mail. Any town or borough aggrieved by the action of the secretary under the provisions of this section may, not later than ten business days following receipt of such notice, appeal to the secretary for a hearing concerning such reevaluation. Such appeal shall be in writing and shall include a statement as to the reasons for such appeal. The secretary shall, not later than ten business days following receipt of such appeal, grant or deny such hearing by notification in writing, including in the event of a denial, a statement as to the reasons for such denial. Such notification shall be sent by certified or registered mail. If any town or borough is aggrieved by the action of the secretary following such hearing or in denying any such hearing, the town or borough may not later than ten business days after receiving such notice, appeal to the superior court for the judicial district wherein such town is located. Any such appeal shall be privileged.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section [12-19a] 1 of this act or subsection (a) of this section, there shall be an amount due the municipality of Voluntown, on or before the thirtieth day of September, annually, with respect to any state-owned forest, of an additional sixty thousand dollars, which amount shall be paid from the annual appropriation, from the General Fund, for reimbursement to towns for loss of taxes on private tax-exempt property.

Sec. 5. Section 12-19c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall, not later than September fifteenth, certify to the Comptroller the amount due each town or borough under the provisions of section [12-19a] 1 of this act, or under any recomputation occurring prior to said September fifteenth which may be effected as the result of the provisions of section 12-19b, as amended by this act, and the Comptroller shall draw an order on the Treasurer on or before the fifth business day following September fifteenth and the Treasurer shall pay the amount thereof to such town on or before the thirtieth day of September following. If any recomputation is effected as the result of the provisions of section 12-19b, as amended by this act, on or after the August first following the date on which the town has provided the assessed valuation in question, any adjustments to the amount due to any town for the period for which such adjustments were made shall be made in the next payment the Treasurer shall make to such town pursuant to this section.

Sec. 6. Section 12-20b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(a) Not later than April first in each year, any municipality to which a grant is payable under the provisions of section 12-20a, as amended by this act, or section 1 of this act, shall provide the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management with the assessed valuation of the tax-exempt real property as of the immediately preceding October first, adjusted in accordance with any gradual increase in or deferment of assessed values of real property implemented in accordance with section 12-62c, which is required for computation of such grant. Any municipality which neglects to transmit to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management the assessed valuation as required by this section shall forfeit two hundred fifty dollars to the state, provided the secretary may waive such forfeiture in accordance with procedures and standards adopted by regulation in accordance with chapter 54. Said secretary may, on or before the first day of August of the state fiscal year in which such grant is payable, reevaluate any such property when, in his or her judgment, the valuation is inaccurate and shall notify such municipality of such reevaluation. Any municipality aggrieved by the action of said secretary under the provisions of this section may, not later than ten business days following receipt of such notice, appeal to the secretary for a hearing concerning such reevaluation, provided such appeal shall be in writing and shall include a statement as to the reasons for such appeal. The secretary shall, not later than ten business days following receipt of such appeal, grant or deny such hearing by notification in writing, including in the event of a denial, a statement as to the reasons for such denial. If any municipality is aggrieved by the action of the secretary following such hearing or in denying any such hearing, the municipality may not later than two weeks after such notice, appeal to the superior court for the judicial district in which the municipality is located. Any such appeal shall be privileged. Said secretary shall certify to the Comptroller the amount due each municipality under the provisions of section [12-20a] 1 of this act, or under any recomputation occurring prior to September fifteenth which may be effected as the result of the provisions of this section, and the Comptroller shall draw his or her order on the Treasurer on or before the fifth business day following September fifteenth and the Treasurer shall pay the amount thereof to such municipality on or before the thirtieth day of September following. If any recomputation is effected as the result of the provisions of this section on or after the January first following the date on which the municipality has provided the assessed valuation in question, any adjustments to the amount due to any municipality for the period for which such adjustments were made shall be made in the next payment the Treasurer shall make to such municipality pursuant to this section.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section [12-20a] 1 of this act or subsection (a) of this section, the amount due the municipality of Branford, on or before the thirtieth day of September, annually, with respect to the Connecticut Hospice, in Branford, shall be one hundred thousand dollars, which amount shall be paid from the annual appropriation, from the General Fund, for reimbursement to towns for loss of taxes on private tax-exempt property.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section [12-20a] 1 of this act or subsection (a) of this section, the amount due the city of New London, on or before the thirtieth day of September, annually, with respect to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, shall be one million dollars, which amount shall be paid from the annual appropriation, from the General Fund, for reimbursement to towns for loss of taxes on private tax-exempt property.

Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 12-63h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(a) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall establish a pilot program in up to three municipalities whereby the selected municipalities shall develop a plan for implementation of land value taxation that (1) classifies real estate included in the taxable grand list as (A) land or land exclusive of buildings, or (B) buildings on land; and (2) establishes a different mill rate for property tax purposes for each class, provided the higher mill rate shall apply to land or land exclusive of buildings. The different mill rates for taxable real estate in each class shall not be applicable to any property for which a grant is payable under section [12-19a or 12-20a] 1 of this act.

Sec. 8. Subsection (b) of section 12-64 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, any land, buildings or easement to use air rights belonging to or held in trust for the state, not used for purposes attributable to functions of the state government or any other governmental purpose but leased to a person or organization for use unrelated to any such purpose, exclusive of any such lease with respect to which a binding agreement is in effect on June 25, 1985, shall be separately assessed in the name of the lessee and subject to local taxation annually in the name of the lessee having immediate right to occupancy of such land or building, by the town wherein situated as of the assessment day next following the date of leasing pursuant to section 4b-38, as amended by this act. If such property or any portion thereof is leased to any organization which, if the property were owned by or held in trust for such organization, would not be liable for taxes with respect to such property under any of the subdivisions of section 12-81, such organization shall be entitled to exemption from property taxes as the lessee under such lease, provided such property is used exclusively for the purposes of such organization as stated in the applicable subdivision of [said] section 12-81 and the portion of such property so leased to such exempt organization shall be eligible for a grant in lieu of taxes pursuant to section [12-19a] 1 of this act. Whenever the lessee of such property is required to pay property taxes to the town in which such property is situated as provided in this subsection, the assessed valuation of such property subject to the interest of the lessee shall not be included in the annual list of assessed values of state-owned real property in such town as prepared for purposes of state grants in accordance with [said] section [12-19a] 1 of this act and the amount of grant to such town under [said] section [12-19a] 1 of this act shall be determined without consideration of such assessed value.

Sec. 9. Subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of section 3-55j of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(a) Twenty million dollars of the moneys available in the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund established by section 3-55i shall be paid to municipalities eligible for a state grant in lieu of taxes pursuant to subsection (b) of section [12-19a] 1 of this act in addition to the grants payable to such municipalities pursuant to section [12-19a] 1 of this act subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Such grant shall be [calculated under the provisions of section 12-19a and shall equal one-third of the additional amount which such municipalities would be eligible to receive if the total amount available for distribution were eighty-five million two hundred five thousand eighty-five dollars and the percentage of reimbursement set forth in section 12-19a were increased to reflect such amount] equal to that paid to the municipality pursuant to this section for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014. Any eligible special services district shall receive a portion of the grant payable under this subsection to the town in which such district is located. The portion payable to any such district under this subsection shall be the amount of the grant to the town under this subsection which results from application of the district mill rate to exempt property in the district. As used in this subsection and subsection (c) of this section, "eligible special services district" means any special services district created by a town charter, having its own governing body and for the assessment year commencing October 1, 1996, containing fifty per cent or more of the value of total taxable property within the town in which such district is located.

(b) No municipality shall receive a grant pursuant to subsection (a) of this section which, when added to the amount of the grant payable to such municipality pursuant to subsection (b) of section [12-19a] 1 of this act, would exceed one hundred per cent of the property taxes which would have been paid with respect to all state-owned real property, except for the exemption applicable to such property, on the assessment list in such municipality for the assessment date two years prior to the commencement of the state fiscal year in which such grants are payable, except that, notwithstanding the provisions of said subsection (a), no municipality shall receive a grant pursuant to said subsection which is less than one thousand six hundred sixty-seven dollars.

(c) Twenty million one hundred twenty-three thousand nine hundred sixteen dollars of the moneys available in the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund established by section 3-55i shall be paid to municipalities eligible for a state grant in lieu of taxes pursuant to subsection (b) of section [12-20a] 1 of this act, in addition to [and in the same proportion as] the grants payable to such municipalities pursuant to section [12-20a] 1 of this act, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section. Such grant shall be equal to that paid to the municipality pursuant to this section for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2014. Any eligible special services district shall receive a portion of the grant payable under this subsection to the town in which such district is located. The portion payable to any such district under this subsection shall be the amount of the grant to the town under this subsection which results from application of the district mill rate to exempt property in the district.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, no municipality shall receive a grant pursuant to said subsection which, when added to the amount of the grant payable to such municipality pursuant to subsection (b) of section [12-20a] 1 of this act, would exceed one hundred per cent of the property taxes which, except for any exemption applicable to any private nonprofit institution of higher education, nonprofit general hospital facility or freestanding chronic disease hospital under the provisions of section 12-8, would have been paid with respect to such exempt real property on the assessment list in such municipality for the assessment date two years prior to the commencement of the state fiscal year in which such grants are payable.

Sec. 10. Subsection (g) of section 4b-38 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the board of trustees of a constituent unit of the state system of higher education may lease land or buildings, or both, and facilities under the control and supervision of such board when such land, buildings or facilities are otherwise not used or needed for use by the constituent unit and such action seems desirable to produce income or is otherwise in the public interest, provided the Treasurer has determined that such action will not affect the status of any tax-exempt obligations issued or to be issued by the state of Connecticut. Upon executing any such lease, said board shall forward a copy to the assessor or board of assessors of the municipality in which the leased property is located. The proceeds from any lease or rental agreement pursuant to this subsection shall be retained by the constituent unit. Any land so leased for private use and the buildings and appurtenances thereon shall be subject to local assessment and taxation annually in the name of the lessee, assignee or sublessee, whichever has immediate right to occupancy of such land or building, by the town wherein situated as of the assessment day of such town next following the date of leasing. Such land and the buildings and appurtenances thereon shall not be included as property of the constituent unit for the purpose of computing a grant in lieu of taxes pursuant to section [12-19a] 1 of this act provided, if such property is leased to an organization which, if the property were owned by or held in trust for such organization would not be liable for taxes with respect to such property under section 12-81, such organization shall be entitled to exemption from property taxes as the lessee under such lease, and the portion of such property exempted and leased to such organization shall be eligible for a grant in lieu of taxes pursuant to [said] section [12-19a] 1 of this act.

Sec. 11. Section 4b-39 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

Land, buildings or facilities leased pursuant to section 4b-35 and section 4b-36 shall be exempt from municipal taxation. The value of such land, buildings or facilities shall be used for computation of grants in lieu of taxes pursuant to section [12-19a] 1 of this act.

Sec. 12. Section 4b-46 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

On and after July 1, 1995, any property which is subject to an agreement entered into by the Commissioner of Administrative Services for the purchase of such property through a long-term financing contract shall be exempt from taxation by the municipality in which such property is located, during the term of such contract. The assessed valuation of such property shall be included with the assessed valuation of state-owned land and buildings for purposes of determining the state grant in lieu of taxes under the provisions of section [12-19a] 1 of this act.

Sec. 13. Section 10a-90 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

The Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State University System, with the approval of the Governor and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, may lease state-owned land under its care, custody or control to private developers for construction of dormitory buildings, provided such developers agree to lease such buildings to such board of trustees with an option to purchase and provided further that any such agreement to lease is subject to the provisions of section 4b-23, prior to the making of the original lease by the board of trustees. The plans for such buildings shall be subject to approval of such board, the Commissioner of Administrative Services and the State Properties Review Board and such leases shall be for the periods and upon such terms and conditions as the Commissioner of Administrative Services determines, and such buildings, while privately owned, shall be subject to taxation by the town in which they are located. The Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State University System may also deed, transfer or lease state-owned land under its care, custody or control to the State of Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority for financing or refinancing the planning, development, acquisition and construction and equipping of dormitory buildings and student housing facilities and to lease or sublease such dormitory buildings or student housing facilities and authorize the execution of financing leases of land, interests therein, buildings and fixtures in order to secure obligations to repay any loan from the State of Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority from the proceeds of bonds issued thereby pursuant to the provisions of chapter 187 made by the authority to finance or refinance the planning, development, acquisition and construction of dormitory buildings. Any such financing lease shall not be subject to the provisions of section 4b-23 and the plans for such dormitories shall be subject only to the approval of the board. Such financing leases shall be for such periods and upon such terms and conditions that the board shall determine. Any state property so leased shall not be subject to local assessment and taxation and such state property shall be included as property of the Connecticut State University System for the purpose of computing a grant in lieu of taxes pursuant to section [12-19a] 1 of this act.

Sec. 14. Subsection (b) of section 10a-91 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(b) Any land so leased to a private developer for rental housing or commercial establishments and the buildings and appurtenances thereon shall be subject to local assessment and taxation annually in the name of the lessee, assignee or sublessee, whichever has immediate right to occupancy of such land or building, by the town wherein situated as of the assessment day of such town next following the date of leasing. Such land shall not be included as property of the Connecticut State University System for the purpose of computing a grant in lieu of taxes pursuant to section [12-19a] 1 of this act.

Sec. 15. Section 15-101dd of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

Whenever any lessee is required to pay property taxes under this chapter, the assessed valuation of such property subject to the interest of the lessee shall not be included in the annual list of assessed values of state-owned real property in such town as prepared for purposes of state grants in accordance with section [12-19a] 1 of this act and the amount of grant to such town under [said] section [12-19a] 1 of this act shall be determined without consideration of such assessed value.

Sec. 16. Subsection (c) of section 22-26jj of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(c) The commissioner may lease all or part of one property acquired by him under this section as part of a demonstration project, in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, provided such project is approved by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. Such property may be leased to one or more agricultural users for a period not to exceed five years. Such lease may be renewed for periods not to exceed five years. Any property leased under such demonstration project shall be exempt from taxation by the municipality in which the property is located. The assessed valuation of the property shall be included with the assessed valuation of state-owned land and buildings for purposes of determining the state's grant in lieu of taxes under the provisions of section [12-19a] 1 of this act.

Sec. 17. Subsection (c) of section 22-26oo of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(c) The Commissioner of Agriculture may lease, permit or license all or part of said farm to one or more persons for the purpose of engaging in agriculture, as defined in section 1-1. Any such lease, permit or license shall be for a period not to exceed fifteen years and shall contain, as a condition thereof, compliance with the provisions of the permanent conservation easement granted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Any such lease, permit or license may be renewed for a period not to exceed fifteen years. Any property leased, permitted or licensed pursuant to this subsection shall be exempt from taxation by the municipality in which said property is located. The assessed valuation of said property shall be included in the assessed valuation of state-owned land and buildings for purposes of determining the state's grant in lieu of taxes pursuant to the provisions of section [12-19a] 1 of this act. Any such lease, permit or license shall be subject to the review and approval of the State Properties Review Board. The State Properties Review Board shall complete a review of each lease, permit or license not later than thirty days after receipt of a proposed lease, permit or license from the Commissioner of Agriculture.

Sec. 18. Section 22a-282 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

The Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of section 22a-208a concerning the right of any local body to regulate, through zoning, land usage for solid waste disposal and section 22a-276, may use and operate as a solid waste disposal area, pursuant to a permit issued under sections 22a-208, 22a-208a and 22a-430, any real property owned by said authority on or before May 11, 1984, any portion of which has been operated as a solid waste disposal area, and the authority shall not be subject to regulation by any such body, except that the authority shall pay to the municipality in which such property is located one dollar per ton of unprocessed solid waste received from outside of such municipality and disposed of at the solid waste disposal area by the authority. Any payment shall be in addition to any other agreement between the municipality and the authority. The provisions of section [12-19a] 1 of this act shall not be construed to apply to any such real property.

Sec. 19. Section 23-30 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may, for the purposes specified in section 23-29, lease, for a period of not less than ninety-nine years, any lands within the state, title to which has been acquired by the resettlement administration or other agency of the government of the United States, provided the form of such lease shall be approved by the Attorney General. Said commissioner may enter into cooperative agreements with any branch of the government of the United States regarding the custody, management and use of lands so leased. All lands leased under this section shall, for the purposes of taxation, be considered as owned by the state, and the towns in which such lands are situated shall receive from the state grants in lieu of taxes thereon, as provided in section [12-19a] 1 of this act.

Sec. 20. Section 32-610 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

The exercise of the powers granted by section 32-602 constitute the performance of an essential governmental function and the Capital Region Development Authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon or in respect of the convention center or the convention center project, as defined in section 32-600, levied by any municipality or political subdivision or special district having taxing powers of the state and such project and the principal and interest of any bonds and notes issued under the provisions of section 32-607, their transfer and the income therefrom, including revenues derived from the sale thereof, shall at all times be free from taxation of every kind by the state of Connecticut or under its authority, except for estate or succession taxes but the interest on such bonds and notes shall be included in the computation of any excise or franchise tax. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the convention center and the related parking facilities owned by the authority shall be deemed to be state-owned real property for purposes of sections [12-19a and] 12-19b, as amended by this act, and 1 of this act and the state shall make grants in lieu of taxes with respect to the convention center and such related parking facilities to the municipality in which the convention center and such related parking facilities are located as otherwise provided in [said] sections [12-19a and] 12-19b, as amended by this act, and 1 of this act.

Sec. 21. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 32-666 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(a) Any land on the Adriaen's Landing site leased by the secretary for purposes of site acquisition for an initial term of at least ninety-nine years shall, while such lease remains in effect, be deemed to be state-owned real property for purposes of sections [12-19a and] 12-19b, as amended by this act, and 1 of this act and subdivision (2) of section 12-81 and the state shall make grants in lieu of taxes with respect to such land to the municipality in which the same is located as otherwise provided in sections [12-19a and] 12-19b, as amended by this act, and 1 of this act.

(b) Any land that comprises a private development district designated pursuant to section 32-600 and all improvements on or to such land shall, while such designation continues, be deemed to be state-owned real property for purposes of sections [12-19a and] 12-19b, as amended by this act, and 1 of this act and subdivision (2) of section 12-81, and the state shall make grants in lieu of taxes with respect to such land and improvements to the municipality in which the same is located as otherwise provided in sections [12-19a and] 12-19b, as amended by this act, and 1 of this act. Section 32-666a shall not be applicable to any such land or improvements while designated as part of the private development district.

Sec. 22. Subsection (a) of section 12-62m of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(a) If real property eligible for a grant or for reimbursement of a property tax or a portion thereof under the provisions of [sections 12-19a] section 1 of this act, 12-20b, as amended by this act, [and] or 12-129p, or any other provision of the general statutes, is located in a town that (1) elected to phase in assessment increases pursuant to section 12-62a of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2005, with respect to a revaluation effective on or before October 1, 2005, or (2) elects to phase in assessment increases pursuant to section 12-62c with respect to a revaluation effective on or after October 1, 2006, the assessed valuation of said property as reported to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall reflect the gradual increase in assessment applicable to comparable taxable real property for the same assessment year.

Sec. 23. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015) For the assessment year commencing October 1, 2015, and each assessment year thereafter, each municipality shall tax motor vehicles in accordance with this section. Commencing with said assessment year, the municipal mill rate for motor vehicles shall not exceed 29.36 mills and any municipality may establish a mill rate for motor vehicles that is different from the municipality's mill rate for real property to comply with the provisions of this section.

Sec. 24. Section 4-66l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) "FY 15 mill rate" means the mill rate a municipality uses during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015;

(2) "Mill rate" means the mill rate a municipality uses to calculate tax bills for motor vehicles;

(3) "Municipality" means any town, city, consolidated town and city or consolidated town and borough;

(4) "Municipal spending" means:

T1

Municipal

 

Municipal spending

   

T2

spending for the

 

for the fiscal year

   

T3

fiscal year prior

two years prior to

   

T4

to the current

 

the current year

   

T5

fiscal year

   

X 100 =

Municipal spending

T6

Municipal spending for the fiscal year two

T7

years prior to the current year;

   

(5) "Per capita distribution" means:

T8

Town population

 

= Per capita distribution;

T9

Total state population

X Sales tax revenue

(6) "Pro rata distribution" means:

T10

Municipal weighted mill rate

X Sales tax revenue

= Pro rata distribution;

T11

calculation

T12

Sum of all municipal weighted

T13

mill rate calculations combined

   

(7) "Regional council of governments" means any such council organized under the provisions of sections 4-124i to 4-124p, inclusive;

(8) "Town population" means the number of persons in a municipality according to the most recent estimate of the Department of Public Health;

(9) "Total state population" means the number of persons in this state according to the most recent estimate published by the Department of Public Health;

(10) "Weighted mill rate" means a municipality's FY 15 mill rate divided by the average of every municipality's FY 15 mill rate;

(11) "Weighted mill rate calculation" means per capita distribution multiplied by a municipality's weighted mill rate; and

(12) "Sales tax revenue" means the revenue deposited into the municipal revenue sharing account each year.

(b) There is established an account to be known as the "municipal revenue sharing account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. [Moneys] Ninety per cent of the moneys in the account shall be expended by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management for the purposes of grants established pursuant to [subsections (b) and (c)] subsection (d) of this section. The secretary shall distribute the remaining ten per cent of funds to regional councils of governments on a per capita basis, as determined by the most recent population estimate of the Department of Public Health.

[(b) (1) The secretary shall provide manufacturing transition grants to municipalities in an amount equal to the amount each municipality received from the state as payments in lieu of taxes pursuant to sections 12-94b, 12-94c, 12-94f and 12-94g of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2011, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011. Such grant payments shall be made in quarterly allotments, payable on November fifteenth, February fifteenth, May fifteenth and August fifteenth. The total amount of the grant payment is as follows:

T14

Municipality

Grant Amounts

T15

   

T16

Andover

$2,929

T17

Ansonia

70,732

T18

Ashford

2,843

T19

Avon

213,211

T20

Barkhamsted

33,100

T21

Beacon Falls

38,585

T22

Berlin

646,080

T23

Bethany

54,901

T24

Bethel

229,948

T25

Bethlehem

6,305

T26

Bloomfield

1,446,585

T27

Bolton

19,812

T28

Bozrah

110,715

T29

Branford

304,496

T30

Bridgeport

839,881

T31

Bridgewater

491

T32

Bristol

2,066,321

T33

Brookfield

97,245

T34

Brooklyn

8,509

T35

Burlington

14,368

T36

Canaan

17,075

T37

Canterbury

1,610

T38

Canton

6,344

T39

Chaplin

554

T40

Cheshire

598,668

T41

Chester

71,130

T42

Clinton

168,444

T43

Colchester

31,069

T44

Colebrook

436

T45

Columbia

21,534

T46

Cornwall

0

T47

Coventry

8,359

T48

Cromwell

27,780

T49

Danbury

1,534,876

T50

Darien

0

T51

Deep River

86,478

T52

Derby

12,218

T53

Durham

122,637

T54

Eastford

43,436

T55

East Granby

430,285

T56

East Haddam

1,392

T57

East Hampton

15,087

T58

East Hartford

3,576,349

T59

East Haven

62,435

T60

East Lyme

17,837

T61

Easton

2,111

T62

East Windsor

237,311

T63

Ellington

181,426

T64

Enfield

219,004

T65

Essex

80,826

T66

Fairfield

82,908

T67

Farmington

440,541

T68

Franklin

18,317

T69

Glastonbury

202,935

T70

Goshen

2,101

T71

Granby

28,727

T72

Greenwich

70,905

T73

Griswold

35,790

T74

Groton

1,373,459

T75

Guilford

55,611

T76

Haddam

2,840

T77

Hamden

230,771

T78

Hampton

0

T79

Hartford

1,184,209

T80

Hartland

758

T81

Harwinton

17,272

T82

Hebron

1,793

T83

Kent

0

T84

Killingly

567,638

T85

Killingworth

4,149

T86

Lebanon

24,520

T87

Ledyard

296,297

T88

Lisbon

2,923

T89

Litchfield

2,771

T90

Lyme

0

T91

Madison

6,880

T92

Manchester

861,979

T93

Mansfield

5,502

T94

Marlborough

5,890

T95

Meriden

721,037

T96

Middlebury

67,184

T97

Middlefield

198,671

T98

Middletown

1,594,059

T99

Milford

1,110,891

T100

Monroe

151,649

T101

Montville

356,761

T102

Morris

2,926

T103

Naugatuck

274,100

T104

New Britain

1,182,061

T105

New Canaan

159

T106

New Fairfield

912

T107

New Hartford

110,586

T108

New Haven

1,175,481

T109

Newington

758,790

T110

New London

30,182

T111

New Milford

628,728

T112

Newtown

192,643

T113

Norfolk

5,854

T114

North Branford

243,540

T115

North Canaan

304,560

T116

North Haven

1,194,569

T117

North Stonington

0

T118

Norwalk

328,472

T119

Norwich

161,111

T120

Old Lyme

1,528

T121

Old Saybrook

38,321

T122

Orange

85,980

T123

Oxford

72,596

T124

Plainfield

120,563

T125

Plainville

443,937

T126

Plymouth

124,508

T127

Pomfret

22,677

T128

Portland

73,590

T129

Preston

0

T130

Prospect

56,300

T131

Putnam

139,075

T132

Redding

1,055

T133

Ridgefield

452,270

T134

Rocky Hill

192,142

T135

Roxbury

478

T136

Salem

3,740

T137

Salisbury

66

T138

Scotland

6,096

T139

Seymour

255,384

T140

Sharon

0

T141

Shelton

483,928

T142

Sherman

0

T143

Simsbury

62,846

T144

Somers

72,769

T145

Southbury

16,678

T146

Southington

658,809

T147

South Windsor

1,084,232

T148

Sprague

334,376

T149

Stafford

355,770

T150

Stamford

407,895

T151

Sterling

19,506

T152

Stonington

80,628

T153

Stratford

2,838,621

T154

Suffield

152,561

T155

Thomaston

315,229

T156

Thompson

62,329

T157

Tolland

75,056

T158

Torrington

486,957

T159

Trumbull

163,740

T160

Union

0

T161

Vernon

121,917

T162

Voluntown

1,589

T163

Wallingford

1,589,756

T164

Warren

235

T165

Washington

231

T166

Waterbury

2,076,795

T167

Waterford

27,197

T168

Watertown

521,334

T169

Westbrook

214,436

T170

West Hartford

648,560

T171

West Haven

137,765

T172

Weston

366

T173

Westport

0

T174

Wethersfield

17,343

T175

Willington

15,891

T176

Wilton

247,801

T177

Winchester

249,336

T178

Windham

369,559

T179

Windsor

1,078,969

T180

Windsor Locks

1,567,628

T181

Wolcott

189,485

T182

Woodbridge

27,108

T183

Woodbury

45,172

T184

Woodstock

55,097

T185

 

T186

Borough of Danielson

0

T187

Borough Jewett City

3,329

T188

Borough Stonington

0

T189

 

T190

Barkhamsted F.D.

1,996

T191

Berlin - Kensington F.D.

9,430

T192

Berlin - Worthington F.D.

747

T193

Bloomfield Center Fire

3,371

T194

Bloomfield Blue Hills

88,142

T195

Canaan F.D. (no fire district)

0

T196

Cromwell F.D.

1,662

T197

Enfield F.D. (1)

12,688

T198

Enfield Thompsonville (2)

2,814

T199

Enfield Haz'dv'l F.D. (3)

1,089

T200

Enfield N.Thmps'nv'l F.D. (4)

55

T201

Enfield Shaker Pines (5)

5,096

T202

Groton - City

241,680

T203

Groton Sewer

1,388

T204

Groton Mystic F.D. #3

19

T205

Groton Noank F.D. #4

0

T206

Groton Old Mystic F.D. #5

1,610

T207

Groton Poquonnock Br. #2

17,967

T208

Groton W. Pleasant Valley

0

T209

Killingly Attawaugan F.D.

1,457

T210

Killingly Dayville F.D.

33,885

T211

Killingly Dyer Manor

1,157

T212

E. Killingly F.D.

75

T213

So. Killingly F.D.

150

T214

Killingly Williamsville F.D.

5,325

T215

Manchester Eighth Util.

55,013

T216

Middletown South F.D.

165,713

T217

Middletown Westfield F.D.

8,805

T218

Middletown City Fire

27,038

T219

New Htfd. Village F.D. #1

5,664

T220

New Htfd Pine Meadow #3

104

T221

New Htfd South End F.D.

8

T222

Plainfield Central Village F.D.

1,167

T223

Plainfield Moosup F.D.

1,752

T224

Plainfield F.D. #255

1,658

T225

Plainfield Wauregan F.D.

4,360

T226

Pomfret F.D.

841

T227

Putnam E. Putnam F.D.

8,196

T228

Putnam W. Putnam F.D.

0

T229

Simsbury F.D.

2,135

T230

Stafford Springs Service Dist.

12,400

T231

Sterling F.D.

1,034

T232

Stonington Mystic F.D.

478

T233

Stonington Old Mystic F.D.

1,999

T234

Stonington Pawcatuck F.D.

4,424

T235

Stonington Quiambaug F.D.

65

T236

Stonington F.D.

0

T237

Stonington Wequetequock F.D.

58

T238

Trumbull Center

461

T239

Trumbull Long Hill F.D.

889

T240

Trumbull Nichols F.D.

3,102

T241

Watertown F.D.

0

T242

West Haven Allingtown F.D. (3)

17,230

T243

W. Haven First Ctr Fire Taxn (1)

7,410

T244

West Haven West Shore F.D. (2)

29,445

T245

Windsor Wilson F.D.

170

T246

Windsor F.D.

38

T247

Windham First

7,096

T248

   

T249

GRAND TOTAL

$49,875,871

(2) The amount of the grant payable to each municipality in any year in accordance with this subsection shall be reduced proportionately in the event that the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount available in the municipal revenue sharing account established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section with respect to such year.

(3) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any municipality that, prior to June 30, 2011, was overpaid under the program set forth in section 12-94b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2011, shall have such overpayments deducted from any grant payable pursuant to this section.

(4) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, not later than August 15, 2012, a payment shall be made to the town of Ledyard in the amount of $39,411 and to the town of Montville in the amount of $62,954. Such payments shall be in addition to any other payments said towns may receive from the municipal revenue sharing account pursuant to this subsection.

(c) If there are moneys available in the municipal revenue sharing account after all grants are made pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the secretary shall distribute the remaining funds as follows: (1) Fifty per cent of such funds shall be distributed to municipalities on a per capita basis, as determined by the most recent federal decennial census, and (2) fifty per cent shall be distributed in accordance with the formula in subsection (e) of section 3-55j using population information from the most recent federal decennial census, the 2007 equalized net grand list and 1999 per capita income.]

(c) No bill which, if passed, would reduce or eliminate the amount of any deposit to the municipal revenue sharing account, as set forth in this section, shall be enacted by the General Assembly without an affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of the members of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and at least three-fifths of the members of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to state finance, revenue and bonding.

(d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, and each fiscal year thereafter, each town shall receive an equalization grant as follows:

(1) (A) A municipality having a mill rate at or above twenty-five shall receive the per capita distribution or pro rata distribution, whichever is higher for such municipality. (B) Such grants shall be increased as follows:

T250

Sum of per capita distribution amount for all municipalities having a

T251

mill rate below twenty-five – pro rata distribution amount for all

T252

municipalities having a mill rate below twenty-five

T253

Sum of all grants to municipalities calculated pursuant to

T254

subparagraph (A) of subdivision

T255

(1) of this subsection.

(C) Provided further that Hartford shall receive no more than 5.2 per cent of the equalization grants distributed pursuant to this subsection; Bridgeport shall receive no more than 4.5 per cent of the equalization grants distributed pursuant to this subsection; New Haven shall receive no more than 2.0 per cent of the equalization grants distributed pursuant to this subsection and Stamford shall receive no more than 2.8 per cent of the equalization grants distributed pursuant to this subsection. Any excess funds remaining after such reductions in payments to Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven and Stamford shall be distributed to all other municipalities having a mill rate at or above twenty-five on a pro rata basis according to the payment they receive pursuant to this subdivision; and

(2) A municipality having a mill rate below twenty-five shall receive the per capita distribution or pro rata distribution, whichever is less for such municipality.

(e) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of the grant payable to a municipality in any year in accordance with subsection (d) of this section shall be reduced if municipal spending in such municipality increases by 2.5 per cent or more or the rate of inflation, whichever is greater. Municipal spending shall not include spending for debt service.

(f) The amount of the grant payable to a municipality in any year in accordance with subsection (d) of this section shall be reduced proportionately in the event that the total of such grants in such year exceeds the amount available in the municipal revenue sharing account established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

Sec. 25. Section 12-122a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015):

Any municipality which has more than one taxing district may by a majority vote of its legislative body set a uniform city-wide mill rate for taxation of motor vehicles, except that if the charter of such municipality provides that any mill rate for property tax purposes shall be set by the board of finance of such municipality, such uniform city-wide mill rate may be set by a majority vote of such board of finance. No uniform city-wide mill rate may exceed the amount set forth in section 23 of this act.

Sec. 26. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015) The following terms, when used in this section and sections 27 to 30, inclusive, of this act have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Administrative auditor" means the person selected pursuant to section 29 of this act;

(2) "Average fiscal capacity" means the assessed value of all real property in all municipalities within the planning region combined, including property eligible for grants pursuant to section 1 of this act and sections 12-19a and 12-20a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, divided by the total population of all municipalities of the region combined;

(3) "Base year" means the assessment year commencing October 1, 2013;

(4) "Commercial and industrial property" means (A) real property used for the sale of goods or services, including, but not limited to, nonresidential living accommodations, dining establishments, motor vehicle services, warehouses and distribution facilities, retail services, banks, office buildings, multipurpose buildings wherein one or more occupations are conducted, commercial condominiums for retail or wholesale use, recreation facilities, entertainment facilities, airports, hotels and motels, and (B) real property used for production and fabrication of durable and nondurable man-made goods from raw materials or compounded parts. Commercial and industrial property includes the lot or land on which a building is situated and accessory improvements located thereon, including, but not limited to, pavement and storage buildings. Commercial and industrial property does not include real property located in an enterprise zone;

(5) "Increase from base year" means the total assessed value of all commercial and industrial property within a municipality for the current year less the total assessed value of all commercial and industrial property within a municipality for the base year;

(6) "Municipality" means any town, city, borough, consolidated town and city or consolidated town and borough;

(7) "Municipal base value" means the total assessed value of commercial and industrial property within a municipality for the base year;

(8) "Municipal commercial industrial mill rate" means:

T256

.2 or less, as determined by the regional council of

     

T257

governments for the planning region within

     

T258

which the municipality is located X increase from

+

   

T259

Base year X regional mill rate

     

T260

       

T261

.8 X increase from base year X municipal mill rate

+

   

T262

effective July first of the current year

     

T263

     

Municipal

T264

Municipal base value X municipal mill rate

   

commercial

T265

effective July first of the current year

 

=

industrial

T266

Total value

   

mill rate;

(9) "Municipal contribution to the area-wide tax base" means:

T267

Increase from base year X .2 or less, as determined by the

     

Municipal

T268

regional council of governments

     

contribution

 

T269

for the planning region within

x

Regional

=

to the

T270

which the municipality is

 

mill rate

 

area-wide

T271

located

     

tax base;

T272

1000

       

(10) "Municipal fiscal capacity" means the assessed value of all real property within a municipality, including property eligible for grants pursuant to section 1 of this act, and sections 12-19a and 12-20a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, divided by the population of such municipality;

(11) "Municipal distribution index" means:

T273

 

Average fiscal capacity

 

Municipal

T274

Municipal population X

Municipal fiscal

=

distribution

T275

 

capacity

 

Index;

(12) "Planning region" means a planning region of the state as defined or redefined by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or his or her designee, under the provisions of section 16a-4a of the general statutes;

(13) "Population" means the number of persons residing in a municipality according to the most recent federal decennial census, except that, in intervening years between such censuses, "population" means the number of persons according to the most recent estimate made, pursuant to section 19a-2a of the general statutes, by the Department of Public Health, with patients and inmates of state hospitals, institutions of correction, and other state institutions excluded;

(14) "Regional council of governments" means any such council organized under the provisions of sections 4-124i to 4-124p, inclusive, of the general statutes;

(15) "Regional mill rate" means the average mill rate of all municipalities within its respective planning region as of January first as calculated by the administrative auditor for such planning region and verified by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management; and

(16) "Total value" means the total assessed value of commercial and industrial property within a municipality for the current assessment year.

Sec. 27. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015) There is established an optional regional property tax base revenue sharing system. To establish such revenue sharing system within a planning region the members of its regional council of governments must unanimously vote to participate therein. On and after January 1, 2017, the tax collector of each municipality within a planning region participating in such revenue sharing system shall remit its municipal contribution to the area-wide tax base, not later than February first, annually, to the administrative auditor for the planning region in which such municipality is located. The administrative auditor shall distribute such revenue to each municipality within the planning region pursuant to section 30 of this act.

Sec. 28. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015) Notwithstanding any provision of any general statute, public act or special act, municipalities located within a planning region participating in the regional property tax base revenue sharing system shall use such municipality's municipal commercial industrial mill rate to determine the amount of taxes imposed on commercial and industrial property within such municipality, unless there is no increase from the base year, in which case the municipal mill rate shall be used.

Sec. 29. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015) (a) On or before August 1, 2016, and each even-numbered year thereafter, the regional council of governments for each planning region participating in the regional property tax base revenue sharing system shall meet and elect from among their number one member to serve as administrative auditor for a period of two years and until a successor is elected. If a majority is unable to agree upon a person to serve as administrative auditor, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall appoint one member from among the council's members. If the administrative auditor ceases to serve as a member within the planning region during the term for which elected or appointed, a successor shall be chosen in the same manner as provided in this subsection for the original selection, to serve for the unexpired term.

(b) The administrative auditor shall utilize the staff and facilities of the planning region. The planning region shall be reimbursed for the marginal expenses incurred by its staff by contribution from each other municipality in the planning region in an amount which bears the same proportion of the total expenses as the population of such municipality bears to the total population of the planning region. The administrative auditor shall annually, on or before February first, certify the amount of total expenses for the preceding calendar year, and the share of each municipality, to the treasurer or other fiscal officer of each municipality within the planning region. Payment shall be made by the treasurer or other fiscal officer of each municipality to the treasurer or other fiscal officer of the planning region on or before the succeeding March first.

Sec. 30. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015) The administrative auditor of each planning region participating in the regional property tax base revenue sharing system shall distribute the moneys remitted to such auditor pursuant to section 27 of this act to each municipality on or before March first, annually, in an amount which bears the same proportion as such municipality's municipal distribution index bears to the total of all municipal distribution indices within such planning region. The revenue distributed to a municipality under this section shall be used by a municipality in the same manner and for the same purposes as the proceeds from taxes on real property levied by the municipality.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1

July 1, 2016

New section

Sec. 2

July 1, 2015

12-19a(a)

Sec. 3

July 1, 2015

12-20a(a)

Sec. 4

July 1, 2016

12-19b

Sec. 5

July 1, 2016

12-19c

Sec. 6

July 1, 2016

12-20b

Sec. 7

July 1, 2016

12-63h(a)

Sec. 8

July 1, 2016

12-64(b)

Sec. 9

July 1, 2016

3-55j(a) to (d)

Sec. 10

July 1, 2016

4b-38(g)

Sec. 11

July 1, 2016

4b-39

Sec. 12

July 1, 2016

4b-46

Sec. 13

July 1, 2016

10a-90

Sec. 14

July 1, 2016

10a-91(b)

Sec. 15

July 1, 2016

15-101dd

Sec. 16

July 1, 2016

22-26jj(c)

Sec. 17

July 1, 2016

22-26oo(c)

Sec. 18

July 1, 2016

22a-282

Sec. 19

July 1, 2016

23-30

Sec. 20

July 1, 2016

32-610

Sec. 21

July 1, 2016

32-666(a) and (b)

Sec. 22

July 1, 2016

12-62m(a)

Sec. 23

October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015

New section

Sec. 24

October 1, 2015

4-66l

Sec. 25

October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015

12-122a

Sec. 26

October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015

New section

Sec. 27

October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015

New section

Sec. 28

October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015

New section

Sec. 29

October 1, 2015

New section

Sec. 30

October 1, 2015, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2015

New section

PD

Joint Favorable Subst. C/R

FIN

FIN

Joint Favorable Subst.