Info about CT

[Gunner]

Is there anyone who lives in or is familiar with living in CT, especially the north central region (Tolland County) who would be interested in discussing it PM or email? I'd be especially interested in chatting with anyone who's raised a family in that area.

PM me if you're inclined - thanks!

[Don]

March edition of Connecticut Magazine has the ratings etc for small Towns, those 10,000 and under including those in North Central CT. Past edition(s) rate the larger communities. Would give you a good comparison. Other towns in North Central CT are in Hartford County. Town of Tolland is rated high.

If your not aware, CT exempts emission testing for Composites which is the CT name for kit cars, but there is an inspection process, then assigns a CT VIN

http://www.connecticutmag.com/site/news.asp?brd=2329

CT Magazine Contact:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.asp?b...dept_id=486630

[Gunner]

Thanks, I've found that and lots of other resources. I'm looking for some residents who can fill in the gaps and tell me what's under the rocks.

CT having reasonable custom-car rules is not a non-factor.

We're looking hard at Tolland. Why, if I may ask the devil's advocate question, wouldn't we want to live there?

[HAPPY SNAKE]

We have a Tolland resident on the FFR forum. I will steer him your way.

-Steve

[Gunner]

I'd appreciate that, HS. PM me for a direct contact address.

All of the public info is that Tolland County in general, and Tolland itself, is a very nice place to live. It's perfectly situated for our regional interests and looks like a great place to finish bringing up our last two kids (10yo twins). As nearly as I can tell, the biggest downcheck is that there's not a lot of local employment - something we can live with.

There's got to be something like a monster in the town sewer or evil Martians or a government mind-control program...

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

The monster is high taxes, which I think you are familiar with being from Calf. Other than that, CT. is pretty nice.

[Gunner]

High in comparison to what? I know it's a big deal to some, but we're not the type to go into conniptions over tax issues.

We're strongly attracted to the northeast but want to be within visiting range of both NYC and Boston, plus all the other attractions of the region. CT is central and appears to have a fantastic quality of living with moderate RE prices. We haven't found anything better in our research, at least not so far.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Right between NYC and Boston, Stafford Springs and Thompson speedways close by (as well as New Hampsire International), Lime Rock, lots of Early American towns and villages, great lifestyle. If Calf. wasn't too expensive, then CT. will be fine.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Oh, and ERA is right around the corner.

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

Oh, and ERA is right around the corner.

Gosh, really?

[Don]

Not specific to Tolland, but with the high CT State deficit, $350 to $500 million ++ and no specific plans to remedy, the state assistance to schools/towns and other grants might be or are taking a hit. Schools are readjusting their curriculums as well as class size going to the max. Reliance on property/real estate taxes, even with the sales and income tax.

Some school systems now require participation payments for sports or join in with other school systems for sports programs.

Not a negative, as I have not had any problems, but just awareness, every town does not have 100% public water and sewer system. Some areas with high underground water tables requiring foundation drainage and/or bilge pumps in the cellar. Smaller towns, volunteer Fire Depts/Ambulance and Resident State Troopers ( excellent ) , rather than a Police Dept

CT has Town/City government, individually for all 169, with their own Boards of Education.The County is mostly for geographical purposes, and some smaller towns have schools on a regional basis.

No surprises, might want to check on the transfer of registration procedure for a kit car i.e., Composite.

Will also add as a plus, the proximity to winter sports in VT & NH going North 1.5 to 2.0 hours

College Basketball: GO UCONN !!!! ( at least the Women's Team )

Overall........CT and the region has a lot to offer

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by Don

Overall........CT and the region has a lot to offer.

So we've found/are finding. I had to drag my wife off of a fixation on MA, having sadly cashed in my fixation on NY (specifically Manhattan), and once she found Tolland County it was a done deal.

Things are a b*tch all over right now, as we well know - a good part of choosing now to relocate is that our major corporation is reliant on state funding which is now being shaken to the core. We could ride it out and restructure but we're both tired and ready to move on to a very early semi-retirement. So shakeups in funding and such are not a barrier, especially when the bar is so high to start with.

CA schools - the same schools I went to back in the day, when it was one of the most highly-rated school districts in the country - are so bad that we pay half a Cobra in tuition a year. Excellent schools, even with a few hits from reality, will be a welcome break and a better environment for our kids.

My wife will likely end up attached to a university - after she's slept in and done nothing for a year. I have to choose one of several paths for my days, but it will be a substantial reduction in complexity from the now.

(Hey, my thousand-and-first post. How time flies...)

[HAPPY SNAKE]

I am the next town over from Tolland, Somers. We have the advantage of great, small-town schools, but significantly lower taxes thanks to having a state facility (yes, prison) on our border. They foot the bill for a big chunk of our taxes, which is great. Real estate can be a little higher here but you get good value for your dollar. I PM'd you some link info as well.

-Steve

[Don]

Listing of the property tax rates by Town in CT. When viewing, need to consider the Town's reevaluation year which now is every 5 years. If there is a Fire District Tax , it's in addition to the Town/City tax

http://www.ct.gov/opm/lib/opm/igp/da...mill_rates.pdf

[Don]

Gunner, fyi

*** Tolland Education Budget Process on far upper right:

http://www.tolland.k12.ct.us/

*** Tolland Residents Give Feedback On Town Budget

By LARRY SMITH Special to The Courant 10:28 PM EDT, April 2, 2010

TOLLAND —

" One thing was certain this week — no one who attended a public hearing on the plan wanted the town council to reduce the town manager's proposed $49.32 million 2010-11 budget.

Town Manager Steven R. Werbner's request represents a 0.96 percent increase over the current $48.85 million spending plan. Within that proposed budget, town spending would decrease 0.5 percent and board of education spending would see a 1 percent increase.

School officials had proposed a $35.63 million spending request, which represents a $2.16 million increase — 6.46 percent — over the current budget.

In a lengthy presentation Wednesday, Werbner said the town faces a difficult economic climate in which federal and state funding are diminishing and local revenue sources aren't growing either. He said town officials took into consideration the economy and how much of an increase taxpayers would be willing to take for not just the next fiscal year but the next few.

"The reality is that Tolland cannot, on its own, tax its way out of this difficult economic climate," Werbner said.

Most of the people who spoke at the public hearing Wednesday asked that the budget be increased, mostly for schools, and voters will have their say at a May 4 referendum.

During a straw poll, 129 voters said the budget should be increased, 26 liked the budget as proposed and no one voted to decrease it.

Brandy Gadoury, who lives on Sugar Hill Road, said that taxpayers get something for every dollar they pay. Gadoury said education has been pitifully funded for a long time and changes need to be made.

"I understand it's a hardship for a lot of people," Gadoury said.

Sam Belsito, a Lee Lane resident, said he supports the budget proposal.

"This budget is fair and makes funding available and it would not put an undue burden on the taxpayer," Belsito said.

School board Chairman Robert Pagoni said the schools' budget was the most scoured and scrubbed proposal the board has offered. The $1.8 million reduction from their request is more than the school system can handle, he added.

Pagoni said the school system's responses to Werbner's suggestions were put on the school system's website: www.tolland.k12.ct.us.

Susan Drive resident Paul Krasusky said he would support more spending in the budget. He said he is embarrassed by such things as the school system's teacher-to-student ratio.

"The town can't shrink to excellence," Krasusky said.

The town council will deliberate and finalize the budget at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the council meeting room in town hall, 21 Tolland Green. The annual budget presentation meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. April 27 in the Tolland High School auditorium, 1 Eagle Hill. "