Middletown commission adopts ordinance aligning vehicle-assessment language with new Connecticut law
July 16, 2026 | Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The General Counsel Commission in Middletown voted unanimously July 16 to amend its motor-vehicle depreciation ordinance so the city will follow the current state statute for assessing older vehicles.
City staff explained the recent change in state law replaces market-value assessments with a depreciation-based approach tied to a vehicle's original MSRP and, under the new language, "all vehicles over 20 years old, are assessed at $500," a staff presenter said. The presenter told commissioners the city opted to remove the local depreciation table from its ordinance and simply refer to the enabling state statute so future state changes do not require repeated local updates.
Why it matters: staff estimated the change will reduce the city's assessed grand list by roughly $4,000,000 under current assumptions. "All those vehicles in the city are gonna end up reducing the grand list by about $4,000,000," the presenter said; commissioners noted the dollar impact on tax revenue depends on next year's mill rate and the city's budget picture. The presenter and Chair clarified that the $4,000,000 figure is an assessed-value estimate and must be multiplied by whatever mill rate is set in the next budget cycle to compute revenue impact.
Commissioners asked whether the $500 assessment applies only to vehicles with antique plates or broadly; the presenter replied the statewide change makes the $500 assessment apply to all qualifying vehicles over 20 years old, not only antiques. When asked whether the city can opt out, staff said state statute supersedes local ordinance and that local options are limited; altering the result would require action at the state level.
Timing and process: staff said the change will affect the October 2027 grand list and therefore could influence the fiscal 2028 budget. After discussion the commission moved to adopt the ordinance language that removes the local depreciation table and directs readers to the state statute; the motion carried unanimously. The presenter said staff would bring a contract for approval to the council at the next meeting in August.
The commission did not transcribe a roll-call list of every individual aye vote; the meeting record shows the motion passed unanimously.
City staff explained the recent change in state law replaces market-value assessments with a depreciation-based approach tied to a vehicle's original MSRP and, under the new language, "all vehicles over 20 years old, are assessed at $500," a staff presenter said. The presenter told commissioners the city opted to remove the local depreciation table from its ordinance and simply refer to the enabling state statute so future state changes do not require repeated local updates.
Why it matters: staff estimated the change will reduce the city's assessed grand list by roughly $4,000,000 under current assumptions. "All those vehicles in the city are gonna end up reducing the grand list by about $4,000,000," the presenter said; commissioners noted the dollar impact on tax revenue depends on next year's mill rate and the city's budget picture. The presenter and Chair clarified that the $4,000,000 figure is an assessed-value estimate and must be multiplied by whatever mill rate is set in the next budget cycle to compute revenue impact.
Commissioners asked whether the $500 assessment applies only to vehicles with antique plates or broadly; the presenter replied the statewide change makes the $500 assessment apply to all qualifying vehicles over 20 years old, not only antiques. When asked whether the city can opt out, staff said state statute supersedes local ordinance and that local options are limited; altering the result would require action at the state level.
Timing and process: staff said the change will affect the October 2027 grand list and therefore could influence the fiscal 2028 budget. After discussion the commission moved to adopt the ordinance language that removes the local depreciation table and directs readers to the state statute; the motion carried unanimously. The presenter said staff would bring a contract for approval to the council at the next meeting in August.
The commission did not transcribe a roll-call list of every individual aye vote; the meeting record shows the motion passed unanimously.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
