The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received June 30, 2026.
I purchased my Russell Road property in 1981 from the Haddam Congregational Church. It had been their parsonage since the 1850’s until 1965 when it had been rented out. The Church had not embellished this house. A leaking roof ruined the plaster ceilings. The center chimney had been removed. The grounds were clogged with weeds and its garage was about to fall down. However, the floors and moldings were original.
After years of extensive repairs, the house still has a dirt cellar and one-third of the second-floor lacks heat. But as a result of my hard work, the house, the grounds, gardens and added outbuildings are lovely. And its location overlooking the Walkley Hill Green is superb.
But I was shocked when I received my recent assessment of 215% of the previous five years’ value! They want me to believe my home value has more than doubled in the past five years! The location value had only increased $30. The newer and restored timber frame outbuildings increased just $320. But my home, which had no improvements, just maintenance over the past thirty-plus years, had been appraised plus $143,230 higher!
I immediately protested and the Assessors reduced it a bit. To double – a 100% increase!
I appealed to the Board of Assessment Appeals. They reduced it again. But still an 83% increase. They told me: “everyone has seen an assessment increase. But that doesn’t mean your taxes will increase because, due to these higher property assessments, the Grand List increases, which means the Mil Rate will decrease.”
Now the Board of Finance has set the Mil Rate at 24.98, which gives me a 10% tax increase! Do they actually believe I deserve a 10% tax increase? Yikes! Has everyone’s taxes increased by 10%? Not according to my informal survey! I believe Haddam must have tailored its increases for us over 90-year-old Seniors, figuring we no longer have the smarts or the energy to fight for our rights.
Well, I am a Haddam asset, not a liability. I have actively contributed to Haddam’s well-being for forty-five years; half my lifetime. I’ve served on the Haddam Historical Society, the RSD17 School Board, as Chairman of St. Peter Parish Council, the Higganum Vision Group, co-founder of the Farmers Market, contributor to the Russell Library, meeting headquarters for the “Stop the Swap” group, and, for thirty-four years, creator of Pesto Mania! So, I claim at least equal rights as a long-term Haddam contributor and tax payer.
If everyone else is paying 10% more taxes to live here, okay, I will too. Otherwise, jail me!
Gerry Matthews, Haddam
