AFFORDABLE HOUSING DRAFT - Salisbury, CT

about what housing its neighbors needed, without the impediments that come with governmentfinancing. We will continue to rely heavily on the generosity of our citizens and businesses if we areto meet our housing goals. This support is the best kind of funding. It comes from the heart of thecommunity.State and federal grants and loans. Appendix VIII contains a list of governmental fundingsources that have historically existed. Many are not presently functioning due to the financial crisesin Hartford and Washington. Given the recognized need for housing, however, we hope and expectthat most of these programs will once again be available when the economy improves. There are alsoorganizations and individuals who assist localities in finding funding sources for their variousprojects. The committee gratefully acknowledges the assistance that has been given to us by manyof them.Municipal funding. Under current law a Connecticut town government can raise money from itscitizens for affordable housing in a limited number of ways. We are indebted to Salisbury’s TownAttorney, Thomas S. Marrion, and his associate Kenneth S. McLaren at HinckleyAllenSnyder LLP, forconstructing on a pro bono basis a compendium of the statutory sources of authority for municipalfinancing of affordable housing. This document, which is attached as Appendix IX, is the first suchcompendium to our knowledge and should be of use to towns throughout the state. The examplesthey provide of Connecticut towns that have used many of the financing vehicles are particularlyuseful. Some examples of municipal financing vehicles other than taxation, borrowing, and feesallowed under Connecticut statutes and some towns that employ them to provide affordable housinginclude:Inclusionary zoning refers to the use of zoning mechanisms that control land development topromote affordable housing. Common types are density bonuses in return for providing deedrestrictedaffordable housing, affordable housing set-asides, and fees deposited in a municipalhousing fund. 21Tax abatement, which may be eligible for reimbursement from the State, may be provided byordinance for properties “solely for low- or moderate-income persons or families.” 2221 Andover, Brookfield, Darien, Danbury, East Hampton, Madison, New Milford, Plymouth, Redding, Ridgefield,and Stamford all employ some form of this mechanism.22 Durham, Groton, Somers and Stamford use this mechanism.49