09/05/2026
I do not support taxing HIGHER EDUCATION - Universities like Yale, Wesleyan, Trinity. I apologize for not making that clearer; my statement was about the federal attack on higher ed, and Fazio's tax plan would further erode our universities and the important research they perform. Instead, I support PILOT programs, and I used both Choate and Elim Park *as examples* of what those could look like for Higher Ed. My statement was not necessarily in support of the status quo of private secondary schools. I hope that clears things up.
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Re: FAZIOS TAX PROPOSAL - At a time when education is already under attack at the federal level, taxing nonprofit educational institutions is the wrong direction for Connecticut.
Voluntary PILOT agreements are a better model: educational institutions contribute directly to the municipalities they call home, helping support local services without undermining their tax-exempt educational mission. And when those voluntary contributions qualify for a federal charitable deduction, the institution receives a federal tax benefit while the town receives real dollars.
Cheshire and Wallingford already benefit from this kind of relationship with tax exempt properties from Choate and Elim Park. Those contributions paid for police body cameras and our canine unit in Cheshire, for just one example.
ETA: I am in no way saying that Choate's PILOT payments to the town are/were good enough. What I am saying is that state law exists to where those deals can happen. Any local agreement must be made with the local taxing authority -- the mayor and the council. It is ONLY in the state's purview to *allow* for those partnerships. If Choate needs to contribute more, I support that, and would willingly work with the mayor's office to help negotiate, if invited.
That’s a partnership that benefits everyone, the municipality, the educational institution, and the people they both serve.
We should be looking for ways to strengthen education in Connecticut, not finding new ways to tax it.
