Somers grand list increases by 1.33%

Susan Danseyar, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·3 min read

Jan. 26—SOMERS — The town's grand list of taxable property has increased by 1.33%, or $12.8 million, over the previous year to a total in 2022 of $982,287,463.

TOP 10 TAXPAYERS

Eversource: $21,322,550

Huntington National Bank: $11,782,340

OnWard Energy Management: $10,137,690

Somers AG Holding Co.: $6,879,900

Driving Range 349 Main Street LLC: $3,261,300

JVLADD Properties: $2,968,100

The Connecticut Water Co.: $2,340,480

Pleasant View Farms Realty Co.: $1,966,490

349 Main St. LLC: $1,861,060

Somers Recreation Inc.: $1,769,480

The grand list is the value of all taxable property in town as of Oct. 1, 2022, and includes real estate, motor vehicles, and personal property. Personal property typically comprises business equipment and is an indicator of economic growth.

Town officials use the grand list to estimate the tax rate required to fund the budget for the next fiscal year.

According to Finance Director Michael Marinaccio, the increase of $12,866,563 for this year's grand list is essentially a flat growth rate. Last year, the list rose by 3.5%, driven primarily from market-driven increases in motor vehicle assessments, he said.

The largest assessment change for 2022 was personal property, which totaled $67,413,121, an increase of $2,822,061, or 4.36% over last year.

The second largest was motor vehicles, which totaled $124,233,620, an increase of $4,699,050, or 3.93%.

The increase in real estate is 0.68%, or $5,345,452, for a total of $790,640,722.

This year's grand list would result in a tax revenue increase of $354,602 at the current tax rate of 27.56 mills.

One mill equals $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

The top 10 taxpayers, headed by Eversource, total $64,289,390, an increase of 6.54% over the previous year.

The grand list is still subject to hearings of the Board of Assessment Appeals and the result of any settlement in outstanding litigation, should it arise.

The three-member board meets March 8 to hear from residents who believe the town assessor erred in the valuation of their properties or erroneously denied them exemptions.

The town will have a perfected grand list in March and then officials will be able to project taxes for the coming year, Marinaccio said.

The Board of Finance is scheduled to set the tax rate in May after voters pass the proposed budget.

The town is ahead of the Feb. 1 deadline for completing its grand list and filing it with the state's Office of Policy and Management.

Former Assessor Walter E. Topliff Jr., who has taken a job in another community, finished the grand list before he left on Jan. 17.

The Board of Selectmen voted last week to name Karen Neal the interim tax assessor, which became effective Jan. 15.

For more coverage of Somers and Enfield, follow Susan Danseyar on Twitter: @susandanseyar, Facebook: Susan Danseyar, reporter.