Waterbury Property Tax Levy Limit Referendum and Household Budget Pressures

A ballot measure on the November 2026 ballot would impose a 2 percent annual cap on increases to Waterbury’s municipal property tax levy, a change that would affect every residential property owner in the city as well as tenants whose rents incorporate tax costs.

The measure comes forward after the Waterbury Board of Aldermen approved a 4.8 percent levy increase in the fiscal 2026 budget adopted in May, a step taken to cover rising costs for public safety and road maintenance documented in the city’s annual financial statements.

Effects on Local Household Expenses

Under the cap, a homeowner whose current tax bill is set by the city assessor would see the municipal share rise by no more than 2 percent each year instead of the larger adjustments approved in recent budgets. Local advocates note that this limit would leave more of a household’s monthly income available for groceries, utilities, and transportation, particularly for fixed-income residents in neighborhoods such as Brooklyn and the North End.

Renters could also see slower pass-through of tax costs if landlords adjust annual rent notices accordingly, though the legislation states that the cap applies only to the municipal levy and does not restrict increases tied to school or county portions of the bill.

Budget Figures and Next Steps

City records show the municipal portion accounted for 62 percent of the average residential tax bill in the 2025 assessment roll released by the Waterbury Tax Collector’s office. The referendum language requires a simple majority of votes cast to take effect for the 2027 assessment cycle.

If approved, the cap would remain in place until the Board of Aldermen places a new measure on the ballot to modify or repeal it, with the first compliance report due from the Finance Department in March 2027.