CONN Explainers

Original, sourced explainers on Connecticut history, government and taxes, written by the CONN staff.

• The Charter Oak: The Story Behind Connecticut's Symbol

  The 1662 charter, the 1687 standoff in Hartford, the oak's fall in 1856, and why the Charter Oak still appears on Connecticut's quarter and state tree.

• How the Connecticut General Assembly Works

  151 House members, 36 senators, short even-year sessions and a two-year budget: a plain guide to how Connecticut's legislature makes law.

• Connecticut Property Taxes Explained: Mill Rates, Grand Lists and Revaluations

  What a mill rate is, how the grand list and revaluations work, the 32.46-mill motor vehicle cap, and where to look up your town's rate.