February 15, 2012

DILLON: STATE SHOULD PAY HOST TOWNS
WITH LARGE CONCENTRATIONS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

Representative Pat Dillon (D-New Haven) has authored legislation (HB 5091) to adjust the formula that distributes state funding to municipalities through PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) to factor in the amount of supportive housing in a community.

“New Haven is a welcoming town, and it should be,” Rep. Dillon, “but taking on state functions impacts our tax base.”

Due to “super zoning” rules for example, group homes for the developmentally disabled can be placed anywhere. However, supportive housing for the mentally ill is restricted to areas where it is permitted by local zoning – consequently, supportive housing is overwhelmingly clustered in communities like New Haven.

Rep. Dillon noted that since the state closed two mental hospitals, clients have been increasingly placed in communities in supportive housing. Consequently, New Haven is arguably performing a state function by hosting individuals who at one time would have been in state hospitals.

“Supportive housing is a much better option than warehousing clients in a state institution. This is the humane option, but it erodes our local tax base and should be accounted for in formulas that reimburse towns for Payment in Lieu of Taxes.”