At the end of the 2025 legislative session, the Connecticut General Assembly directed the University of Connecticut’s School of Public Policy (SPP) to examine two areas of veteran support: the Municipal Veterans Representative program and the state’s property tax exemptions for veterans.
For the Institute of Municipal and Regional Policy (IMRP), SPP’s applied research division, the request is a chance to work in a new area.
“Requests like this give us the opportunity to apply our research expertise to an area outside our traditional focus and demonstrate how the IMRP connects academic expertise with real-world policy challenges,” said assistant research professor Dr. Lydia Wileden, who is leading the project.
The studies are due January 1, 2027.
Connecticut has a particularly long history of aiding veterans and their dependents, including housing the country’s first veterans’ hospital, dating back to the Civil War. The veteran property tax exemption program dates back to the 1800s. Connecticut is also unique among states in mandating that all towns have an identified municipal liaison for veterans, referred to as the Vet Rep program.
“The collective goal of the studies is to examine how Connecticut supports and honors its veterans,” Wileden said. “Each study comes at that question from a slightly different vantage point.”
Wileden brings a background in social science research, including survey methods, interviewing, demography, and data and policy analysis, to the assignment. She also drew on the expertise of School of Public Policy colleagues, including Professor Eric Brunner, and an advisory committee established under the legislation to help guide the work.
The studies’ advisory committee includes members of the General Assembly from both chambers and political parties, leadership in the Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans, veteran service providers, and subject matter experts, including representatives from the Connecticut Association of Assessing Officers and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.
Listening to veterans and those who serve them
It has been incredible to connect with so many veterans and hear their stories.
Research has involved an extensive review of Connecticut’s legislative history, along with conducting surveys, focus groups, and interviews. Some of the most significant insights have come from speaking directly with veterans.
The team completed 58 veteran interviews, surpassing its original goal of 40. Recruitment for study participants took place throughout fall 2026 through veteran organizations, social media, newsletters, local Vet Reps, and in-person outreach at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Stand Down 2026. Researchers corresponded with more than 100 interested veterans and offered interview appointments to as many as possible within the month of October.
“It has been incredible to connect with so many veterans and hear their stories,” Wileden said.
One early interviewee offered a perspective that stayed with her: “Regardless of how long you served, you’re a veteran for life.”
“It’s been really remarkable to hear the ways people carry their military service with them, for good and for bad, forever after,” she said.
Wileden said veterans are generally appreciative of the state’s efforts to recognize their service and provide additional benefits based on disability ratings. At the same time, some have expressed concerns.
“Respondents are drawing a distinction between performative and meaningful recognition,” Wileden said. “Longstanding programs for veterans – like the Vet Rep program and the baseline exemption policy – feel to many like they have not kept up with the times.”
Understanding where policies can improve
Another pattern emerging from the research is the importance of communication, particularly how veterans learn about the services and benefits available to them.
“This is a major theme across studies,” Wileden said. “How do you spread the word about available services and benefits? How do you do that simply and accurately? What and who are the most effective platforms or messengers, and how do you get people connected to them?”
The property tax study presents additional complexities, as the distribution of financial benefits intersects with concepts of perceived deservedness, sacrifice, ableness, and individual circumstances. Researchers are also examining the challenges created by benefit cliffs, where seemingly small differences in disability ratings can result in significantly different levels of monetary assistance.
The findings will be considered alongside demographic data, population projections, and the financial impact of exemptions on municipalities.
A veteran’s perspective
Through this process, I feel I have made 58 new friends – veteran brothers and sisters.
Wileden’s research assistant, Susan Camoroda, has brought her own perspective to the project. A retired Army colonelwho also serves as a municipal Vet Rep, Camoroda is a recent UConn Master of Public Administration graduate and current Master of Social Work student.
Camoroda said she was struck by the dedication of local Vet Reps, the determination of municipal assessors to implement the tax exemption policies fairly, and the willingness of veterans to share their experiences.
“Over and over, a veteran emphasized that it is not so much the specific amount of tax exemption or other benefit, but rather the recognition of service through these benefits that veterans are most appreciative of,” Camoroda says.
Of particular importance to her was the opportunity to include the voices of women veterans. Sixteen of the 58 veterans interviewed were women.
“Through this process, I feel I have made 58 new friends – veteran brothers and sisters,” Camoroda said.
Looking ahead
With the veteran interviews complete, Wileden and her team are analyzing the data, connecting their primary research with data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, the state’s Office of Fiscal Analysis, and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Findings will be reported back to the General Assembly in time for the start of the next legislative session. Researchers also were invited to preview the property tax study findings at the Moving Beyond Conference in mid-December.
For questions or additional information, please email: SPPVeteranStudies@uconn.edu.