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Governor Ned Lamont announced yesterday that he is taking action to prevent dramatic increases in property tax assessments on Connecticut farmland, forestland, open space, and maritime heritage land that could force the conversion of these lands to more intensive uses.

In a letter transmitted to Office of Policy and Management (OPM) Interim Secretary Joshua Wojcik, the governor is directing OPM to reinstate the 2020 recommended land use values under PA 490, effective immediately.

“Family farms are vital to Connecticut’s economy and are an essential part of our heritage,” Governor Lamont said. “Preserving Connecticut’s farmland and open spaces is critical to maintaining a reliable source of food and farm products, conserving our natural resources, and promoting the welfare and happiness of our residents. Our work to address concerns around rising land use values demonstrates our understanding of the challenges farmers face. Preserving these lands is about more than economics, it’s about sustaining a way of life that defines Connecticut, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the farming community to keep Connecticut agriculture strong.”

Governor Lamont has directed OPM, in consultation with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, to:

• Revoke the 2025 Recommended Land Use Values and Best Practices for farmland, forestland, open space, and maritime heritage land, and reinstate the 2020 recommended land use values for these categories;
• Immediately notify all municipal tax assessors of this revocation and reinstatement; and
• Convene a working group in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, including representation from agricultural organizations, farmers, municipal leaders, and assessors, to recommend alternative measures to improve data collection, review, and valuation processes consistent with state law.

State Sen. Rob Sampson responded to Lamont’s reversal following today’s public forum with Connecticut farmers.

“Connecticut farmers raised serious and legitimate concerns about a deeply flawed farmland assessment process that would have resulted in severe and unjustified tax increases. Those concerns were initially ignored," said Sampson. "Governor Lamont’s Jan. 19 reversal confirms what Senate Republicans and farmers across the state have been saying all along: this policy was wrong and unsustainable."

Sampon said the reversal "did not happen by accident" and "is the direct result of sustained pressure from Senate Republicans who stood with farmers, demanded accountability, and forced the administration to confront the real-world consequences of its actions."

"Rolling back these increases is a necessary step to prevent immediate harm to family farms, local agriculture, and open-space preservation. But it is only a first step," said Sampson. "Connecticut Democrats still have much more work to do to make farmers and all impacted property owners whole and to ensure this kind of reckless policy never advances without transparency, data, or common sense."

"Going forward, the state must commit to a truly transparent, data-driven process that respects the people who steward our land instead of treating them as a revenue source," Sampson continued. "I will continue to highlight the administration’s misguided agenda and push for a new direction that makes Connecticut safer, more affordable, and more respectful of those who live, work, and invest here.”

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