P.O. Box 373
Middletown, CT 06457
Promoting responsible development of our city since 1981
WestfieldResidents@gmail.com
- If the Army uses these 88 acres to build a military base, the City of Middletown will never receive a penny of tax revenue from that land (the Military, unlike the state, does not provide any payments in lieu of taxes to the city). Middletown property taxes have steadily increased over the years with no relief. Our taxes continue to go up, is this a time to allow a significant property off the tax rolls?
- Economic benefit to local businesses? NO. This site is distant and inconvenient to any Middletown shops and cafes. The employees and soldiers will take Middle Street and I91 to spend their money in the towns of Berlin, Cromwell, and Meriden. Even those benefits will be minimal as most bases are self-sustaining.
- The City Water and Sewer department has stated that new water facilities will be necessary to deliver water to the Military Facility. These costs will be paid for by Middletown taxpayers, not the army. There are also issues of water quality, water pressure, development increases, fire support, and delivery redundancy.
- The Westfield Fire Department will get NO reimbursement for the added fire protection requirements.
Economic Burden
- New Jobs? Few new permanent jobs will be created as most of the employees are military and will be relocated from the bases that will be closing. In any case, any employee that decides to relocate to Middletown will contribute to the overcrowding of an already overburdened school district, and will reduce rather than add to the city's tax burden.
