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

OLR Research Report


June 25, 2012

  

2012-R-0287

SPECIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS

By: Rute Pinho, Associate Analyst

This report provides a directory of special services districts (SSDs) in Connecticut. It updates OLR Report 2011-R-0325.

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.

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.

5th 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

66 West Main St.

New Britain, CT 06051

(860) 229-0878

http://www.newbritaindd.com/index.php

New Haven

Chapel West Special Services District

1205 Chapel St.

New Haven, CT 06511

(203) 787-3000

http://www.chapelwest.com/

New Haven

Grand Avenue Special Services District

258 Grand Ave.

2nd Floor

New Haven, CT 06513

(203) 865-0522

http://www.grandavenuessd.org/

New Haven

Town Green District

900 Chapel St.

Suite 703

New Haven, CT 06510

(203) 401-4245

http://www.towngreendistrict.com/

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