"Connecticut has the second highest local property taxes per capita in the nation. Forty-eight states have a better deal for residents who want to live in their homes for their lifetimes." Juan O'Callahan, New London Day Editorial

Gov. M. Jodi Rell, although initially indicating there appeared to be scant evidence of a looming crisis over Connecticut's property taxes, is now promoting a cap on annual rates of increase.

If the state of Connecticut were able to hold a referendum on an annual percentage cap for property tax increases, it would pass overwhelmingly. However, unlike many other states, there is no such opportunity for Connecticut voters.

Local property taxes are directly tied to, and depend on, cities' and towns' budgets and annual budget increases. In Connecticut, many — if not most — cities and towns have had runaway annual escalation rates applied to their budgets. In Stonington, for example, the average annual budget increase over two decades has been two-and-a-half times the level of inflation.

According to the press, Gov. Rell's proposal is to legislate a 3 percent per annum cap on local property tax escalation rates. That would be somewhat higher than current Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation, but considerably better than the historical 5 percent and 6 percent annual increases of the past 15 to 20 years.

Gov. Rell's proposal will apparently face substantial opposition in the Democrat-controlled Legislature and from local municipalities.

Isn't it time that something be done about the looming property tax crisis in Connecticut?

Perhaps the first step is to help those who are hurt most. Hurt most of all by the inordinate increases in Connecticut's property taxes are its over-70 seniors who are on fixed retirement incomes and living on Social Security and declining nest eggs. Every few years, thousands of widows, widowers, elderly couples and other over-70s have to sell their cherished, longtime homes and move to another town or out-of-state.