WESTPORT–Property owners will receive their updated home or commercial property assessments in the mail early next week, First Selectman Kevin Christie announced.
In the recently completed town revaluation, assessments are up sharply – 61% for homes and 17% for commercial properties, on average – since the last revaluation five years ago.
But Christie noted that an increased assessment does not necessarily mean a higher tax bill.
The assessment reflects the property owner’s share of the total value of property in the town, known as the Grand List. If that total value rises, then the same amount of revenue can be raised with a smaller mill rate, which is the rate used to calculate each property owner’s bill.
“When the overall Grand List increases, the mill rate typically decreases, all else being equal,” Christie said. “Any change to your tax bill will depend on how your new assessment compares to others in town and on the Town’s approved budget in spring 2026.”
He also noted that Westport’s changes are in line with neighboring communities.
“Individual assessments will vary,” the first selectman said. “These trends are consistent with market conditions observed throughout Fairfield County and in neighboring towns that are completing revaluations this year.”
A reassessment, required every five years by state law, updates the value of a property for tax purposes. Westport’s last revaluation came in October 2020, during the pandemic.
Yesterday, the town mailed notices to property owners with the results. They are expected by Monday or so. These notices reflect assessed values as of Oct. 1, 2025, based on field reviews and sales analyses completed by the town assessor’s office and Vision Government Solutions.
The assessed value is 70% of fair market value.
Property owners who believe their new assessments are incorrect or who would like to discuss their valuation can request an appointment with Vision Government Solutions later this month. They can appeal the matter after the Grand List is signed by filing an application with the Board of Assessment Appeals by Feb. 20, 2026.
A decision by the Board can be appealed to Connecticut Superior Court.
Property owners can learn more about the Westport 2025 Revaluation including answers to frequently asked questions here.
There is one piece of information missing that would tell us whether our taxes will rise due to the revaluation. Although the article had the change percentage for commercial and personal property, the key number is the change in the total grand list. If my property’s increase is greater than the grand list’s increase then the reassessment caused an increase in my taxes. The contra is also true.
Westport Journal, can you find out and publish that?