Planning and Development Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-968
AN ACT CONCERNING FORECLOSURE, ASSIGNMENT AND OTHER
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS FOR UNPAID SEWER ASSESSMENTS AND
Title: OTHER FEES AND CHARGES.
Vote Date: 3/21/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 3/5/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
N/A
REASONS FOR BILL:
The bill aims to prohibit foreclosure or other enforcement action for unpaid sewer fees of less
than $10,000. Often, effected homeowners have modest incomes, and must spend additional
thousands of dollars in legal fees to avoid foreclosure for as little as $1,000 of unpaid taxes.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Judicial Branch, External Affairs Division: Requested removal of the term commercially
reasonable, in lines 56, 126 and 198, as it may increase potential for litigation.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Jeff Gentes, Connecticut Fair Housing Center and co-supervisor of Yale Law School
Housing Clinic: Voiced support, claiming expenses associated with foreclosures for unpaid
sewer bills do not help anyone except lawyers who do the paperwork. According to
testimony, sewer foreclosures are based on small amounts. However, a, $1000 or
$2000 bill balloons to $4000 or $5000 overnight when the authority chooses to foreclose.
Either the homeowner must pay this doubled or tripled amount or face foreclosure. This is an
unconscionable abuse of government power. Further, it is claimed that threatening
foreclosure over $1,000 is unfairly detrimental to individuals who already have modest
incomes.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
William L. Donlin, Collector of Revenue, Town of Cheshire and Legislative Co-Chair of
Connecticut Tax Collectors Association: Voiced opposition, claiming, The
proposed bill as written would exclude municipalities, regional water and sewer
authorities from enforcement actions on delinquent accounts because the delinquent
principal on such accounts would never exceed ten thousand dollars. It could take over 23.5
years for the town to be able to enforce action, as residential property owners are charged a
flat rate of $425 per year. Testimony suggests a number of years as a threshold on
delinquent accounts rather than a dollar amount for consistency.
Launa Goslee, City of Torrington Tax Collector: Voiced opposition. Because the threshold
for enforcing sewer debt would be $10,000 under the bill, testimony claims taxpayers will
contribute taxes less often, decreasing collection rates. Because the amount owed would be
allowed to get so high, testimony claims there is greater risk of not collecting the total debt
even when action is taken.
David Kluczwski, Town of Fairfield and Connecticut Tax Collectors Association
Legislative Co-Chair: Voiced opposition, suggesting delinquency be based on amount of
years, not a dollar amount, as it is highly unlikely $10,000 would be exceeded within the 15-
year statutory time limit. For example, the sewer tax range in Fairfield ranges between $150
to $1,000 per year.
It is requested that the threshold of delinquency be 4 years to provide reasonable protections
while maintaining fairness, according to testimony.
Reported by: Colin Savino Date: 3/22/2021
Page 2 of 2 SB-968


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-254, 7-258, 49-92o
PD Joint Favorable: 7-254, 7-258, 49-92o
File No. 320: 7-254, 7-258, 49-92o