2009 Grand List Shows Larger Tax Base

Town assessor Paul Friia said this week that the 2009 Grand List he signed at $10.9 billion is good news for Westport.

The list is the sum of the assessed value of all taxable property, including real estate, motor vehicles, and personal property. Motor vehicles and personal property are valued annually, while real estate is updated based on the market values determined as of the town's last revaluation date of Oct.1, 2005. The 2010 revaluation is just getting started, Friia said.

The 2009 Grand List represents an increase of 1.35 percent over last year, Friia said. An increase in the total value of the list means an increase in Westport's tax base.

"When that happens, it's actually good for the average taxpayer because it adds more people paying taxes to the pool," Friia said. "I think we did a little better than some surrounding towns. We were very diligent on our business permits this year and I think it helped us increase the overall Grand List."

Building permits generate taxes for the town.

The increases in the Grand List are in the categories of real estate and personal property, Friia said.

Real estate increased because building activity continued despite the economic downturn. Most of the building was residential — new construction and renovations — but did include some commercial properties, Friia said. One of the major commercial projects was that of Fairfield County Bank Corp., Friia said.

In regard to personal property, which values business and their equipment, the list increased by 19.3 percent primarily because of the continued installation of a Connecticut Light & Power Co. transmission line.

"They had a big project where they were doing it in stages so they put new cable in, new equipment, so all that is worth something," and contributes to the increase, Friia said.

While residents might take comfort in knowing the tax burden will be spread out a little more this year, they won't know exactly how their 2009 assessments will affect their taxes until the town sets the mill rate in May.

However, the Westport Board of Assessment Appeals will conduct meetings in March to hear appeals for the assessments on the 2009 Grand List. Those who don't agree with their assessments or want to dispute them have until Feb. 19 to submit an application.

The applications are available in the town assessor's office or can be found online by clicking here.

Here are the top 10 taxpayers (and their assessments) in Westport:

1. Connecticut Light & Power Inc.                       $112,718,090
2. Nyala Farms Inc.                                                    $88,309,100
3. Marc & Cathy Lasry                                               $28,419,000
4. Allainz Life Insurance Company                       $25,272,000
5. Riverside Office 285 & 355 LLC                        $24,782,200
6. Roseville Estates Inc.                                            $24,635,770
7. Byelas Irving Irrevocable Trust                        $17,535,000
8. Westport Corporate Center LLC                     $16,968,400
9. Westport Retail Co-Investors LLC                 $16,338,400
10. 44 Main Street Inc.                                                $16,210,300