Waterbury FY2027 Budget Sets Property Tax Mill Rate at 42.8 to Fund Community Services

The Waterbury Board of Aldermen approved the city's Fiscal Year 2027 budget on July 8, 2026, fixing the property tax mill rate at 42.8 mills. The rate applies to all residential and commercial parcels within city limits and generates revenue for the Department of Social Services and affiliated nonprofit contracts.

City budget documents released July 1 show that property tax collections make up 68 percent of the $312 million general fund. Demand for services such as emergency rental assistance and senior meal delivery rose 12 percent between 2024 and 2025, according to the department's annual report. The new rate is projected to add $6.1 million to the social services line item.

Direct effects on Waterbury households

A single-family home assessed at $180,000 will see its annual tax bill rise from $7,452 to $7,704. The additional $252 supports expanded hours at the North End Community Center and the South Main Street food pantry, which distributed 92,000 meals last fiscal year. Renters in buildings with more than four units may face pass-through increases of $15 to $25 per month, depending on lease terms.

Local advocates note that the budget maintains current staffing levels at the three city-run youth centers, which together register 1,150 participants each week. The allocation also covers continuation of the mobile health clinic that operates two days a week in the Brooklyn and Town Plot neighborhoods.

Timeline for collection and service delivery

Tax bills reflecting the new rate will be mailed by September 15, 2026, with the first payment due October 1. The Department of Social Services has scheduled public meetings for August 12 and August 19 to explain how the added funds will be distributed among existing contracts. City finance staff expect the first quarterly transfer to community partners to occur on October 15.