Chester Grand List Shows Tiny Increase

By Charles Stannard

CHESTER— The grand list of taxable property for 2009 shows a tiny increase of three hundredths of a percent that will generate minimal new tax revenue for the 2010-2011 town budget.

Assessor Patricia Stevenson has filed an October 2009 grand list that totals $500.54 million, up from a 2008 total of $498.96 million. The increase in taxable property is one of the smallest in many years. The increase in 2008 was about 16 percent, boosted by a townwide revaluation statistical update that was completed that year.

The 2009 assessment totals are $17 million for personal property, up slightly from a $16.73 million total in 2008, and $457.57 million for real estate, up from a real estate total of $456.29 million in 2008. The assessment total for motor vehicles was $25.94 million, almost unchaged from a 2008 motor vehicles total of $25.92 million.
Stevenson said there were very few new homes constructed, and very little commercial development in Chester last year. She estimated the 0.0031 percent increase would generate about $33,000 in new tax revenue for 2010-2011 at the current tax rate of 21.11 mills, which is $21.11 in tax for each $1,000 of assessed property value.

The list of the town’s top ten taxpayers remained unchanged, with Chester Woods Inc., the Chester Villlage West retirement community on Route 148, the top taxpayer with an assessment of $15,547,520. Others in the top ten with assessment totals are Connecticut Water Co. ($7,041,200), Whelen Engineering Co. Inc. ($6,878,100), The Eastern Company ($4,071,240), Whelen Aviation LLC, which is the Chester Airport ($3,851,810), and Connecticut Light and Power Co ($3,614,970).

Also Roto Frank of America Inc. ($2,884,400), Arthur and Judith Schaller (2,447,810), Margaret and Robert Sbriglio ($2,249,480), and Chester Marina LLC. ($2,060,410).