SPECIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS

Location:
SPECIAL DISTRICTS;
Scope:
Connecticut laws/regulations;


September 7, 2011		2011-R-0325
SPECIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS

By: Rute Pinho, Associate Analyst

This report provides a directory of special services districts (SSDs) in Connecticut.

SSDs are one type of special taxing district Connecticut law authorizes. They are also referred to as business improvement districts. Under CGS § 7-339m et seq., a municipality can form a SSD to promote the economic and general welfare of its citizens and property owners. Among other things, the district can (1) acquire and convey real and personal property; (2) provide any service that a municipality can provide, other than education; (3) recommend to the municipality's legislative body that it impose a separate tax on property in the district to support its operations; (4) borrow money for up to one year backed by district revenues; and (5) build, own, maintain, and operate public improvements. Voters in the district must approve its establishment at a referendum.

Table 1 lists the 13 SSDs by town and includes, where available, each SSDs address, contact information, and website. We compiled this list based on Internet searches and with assistance from the Connecticut Main Street Center.

Table 1: Special Services Districts

*Location*	*Name*	*Address*	*Phone*	*Website*
Bridgeport	Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District	10 Middle St. Bridgeport, CT 06604	(203) 335-3800	http://infobridgeport.com/
Danbury	City Center	186 Main St. Danbury, CT 06810	(203) 792-1711	http://www.citycenterdanbury.com/about/about.htm
Hartford	Hartford Business Improvement District	31 Pratt St. 3^rd Floor Hartford, CT 06103	(860) 728-2274	http://www.hartfordbid.org/
Manchester	Downtown Manchester Special Services District	983 Main Street Suite 10 Manchester, CT 06040	(860) 645-2101	http://www.downtownmanchester.org/
Middletown	Downtown Business District	330 Main St. Suite 200 Middletown, CT 06457	(860) 347-1424	http://www.downtownmiddletown.com/default.asp
New Britain	Downtown District	117 West Main St. New Britain, CT 06051	(860) 229-0878	http://www.newbritaindd.com/index.php
New Haven	Chapel West Special Services District	61 Howe St. New Haven, CT 06511	(203) 787-3000	N/A
New Haven	Grand Avenue Special Services District	N/A	(203) 777-4282	http://www.grandnewhaven.com/
New Haven	Town Green District	900 Chapel St. Suite 703 New Haven, CT 06510	(203) 401-4245	http://www.infonewhaven.com/content/town-green-special-services-district
New Haven	Whalley Avenue	300 Whalley Ave. Suite 206 New Haven, CT 06511	(203) 776-5455	http://www.whalleyssd.org/
New London	City Center District	P.O. Box 1166 New London, CT 06320	N/A	http://nlccd.org/
Stamford	Downtown Special Services District	5 Landmark Sq. Suite 110 Stamford, CT 06901	(203) 348-5285	http://www.stamford-downtown.com/
West Hartford	Blue Back Square Special Services District	N/A	(860) 561-7420	N/A

RP:tjo