Senator Boucher Testifies Before Planning and Development Committee

State Senator Toni Boucher (R-26) today said she will testify before the legislature’s Planning and Development Committee in support of two bills. The public hearing takes place at 10:30 a.m. in room in room 2D of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Sen. Boucher will testify in favor of SB 406, An Act Concerning a Property Tax Exemption for Businesses, and HB 6926, An Act Permitting Municipalities To Impose A Buyer’s Fee On The Conveyance Of Real Property. SB 406 was submitted by the senator and is particularly timely as the governor proposes to place much of the state’s budget deficit and pension obligations shortfall onto local property owners and property taxpayers.

“SB 406 would exempt ten thousand dollars of a business’s tangible personal property from the property tax,” she said. “This bill would attempt to address the flight of small business from Connecticut, an issue of great concern in my own district and elsewhere in the state, where so many businesses have already departed for friendlier tax environments.”

Sen. Boucher said the bill would provide businesses with some tax relief, which might make them more likely to stay in Connecticut.

HB 6926 would allow municipalities to raise money from some real estate sales that could be used to purchase open space for conservation.

Sen. Boucher said, “The adoption of this tax would be optional and at the discretion of the municipality. HB 6926 would give towns greater ability to preserve and enhance their open space without imposing a one size fits all requirement on our municipalities.”

Sen. Boucher represents the communities of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.