Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-02-01

On Saturday the board of assessors
-Aron w. Dickey, Alexander Reeves
and Lewis r. Church-completed their
work Of assessing property of the town
of Norwich for the grand list of 1908,
and as the result of their work of four
months they left the list increased
$59S,656 over the net taxable list of
1907. or the list as left by the board of
relief last March. 1t is now within a
few dollars Of $17,000,00 The assess
ors have been hard at work throughout
the entire four months, and while they
realize that their work is not fully
completed as 1t should be, it was i'm
possible to do more because of the linn
it defined by law. The board Of relief
starts 1t work this morning, and no
doubt VIII have many visitors.
There were between 500 and 700 lists
which were raised by the assessors,
and the property owners were given
notice of that the 18th of January.
Their complaints, If they have any, will
be made to the board Of relief. There
were quite a number who handed in
lists to the assessors which were less
than the amount of the last grand list.
Where the assessors have put the
amount up to the figure of the last list
they are not required to notify the
taxpayer. Taxpayers have handed in
their lists much better this year than
they did last. The 1907 list was raised
$70,624 by the 10 per cent addition. but
this year the addition because of the 10
per cent. increase is but s43,415. The
board has had very little fault finding
because of their work last year.
Equalization on Three Quarers Basis.
The board in carrying on its work
has found that the general impression
seems to prevail that they are increas-
ing the lists simply for the purpose of
pushing up the grand list. This they
declare Is not so. In making additions
to property lists they state that it is
done for the purpose Of equalization of
the entire property holdings of the
town on a three-quarters basis. or so
that every property holder will be pay
ing taxes on three quarters of the VAL
uation of his property. In going over
the lists the assessors find many dis
crepancies. Some property is not in
at all, II is occasionally found, and in
other, cases 1t is in so low that the
owners themselves realize it and feel
thankful that they have been able to
keep 1t so low for such a length of
time. In 1907 the board covered Greene
vile thoroughly. and this time they
took the West Side, covering the sec
ton street by street and viewing all
the property One or two pieces of
property which were not in the list
were found, and there was a general
overhauling Of amounts with view
to equalization. It Is impossible to get
perfect equalization each time. and
1t is often necessary, as II was this
time, to go over Greeneville section and
make some corrections. The West Side
was found Just as had das was Greene
vile.
Additions and Losses.
The large additions this year were
at the Totokett mills, United States
Finishing company and the Chappell
Ely company. The first named was in
creased from s2O2, 900 to $3OS, 800 the
second from S903, 900 to $1,003,200. and
the last named from $4,000 to $780,
600. There have also been additions
because of the Uncas Power company
which is in the list for the first time
and the John I. Young Boiler com
pany. The new Norwich Nickel and
Brass company's building and the East
Side mill also make additions. In
losses there is the w. H. Page Boiler
company, the Uncas Paper company
because of fire, and $4,000 in bonds
which are taken to Hartford for tax
alton. There has been an increase in
the valuation OF dwelling houses of
over 100000, in stores Of over $3.50, 600
and in mills and manufactures of over
$4,000.
More Rules Next Year.
The assessors find that the rules they
started last year have worked well
and for the benefit of the board they
will enforce others next year. One is
that they will take no lists after the
first Of October. It will stand in the
name Of the party owning it at that
time regardless Of transfers after that
as it Is unfair to the board and col
lector to make changes in their lists
after they are once started. They will
also impress upon the owners the ne
cessity of putting in the house num-
bers so that they can be distinguished
The board also believes that there
should be q new list Of exempt prop
erty and a reassessment of it. It
amounts to 80 million now. but in
reality it Is much more.
Term of Office.
While the board was in session there
was a meeting Of the assessors, mayor,
city and town counsel, selectmen and
town clerk for the purpose of consid-
ering the changes which much come
with biennial elections. The board OF
assessors is an important office and II
was the opinion Of the meeting that
the members should be elected for six
years, or elect a new member to the
board every two years. The board
considers it would also be advisable
for the town to have the assessors hold
Office for the entire year, so that they
could keep up with the transfers and
sales and that the board should also
have a map Of the town by districts
and a card system. 1t is impossible 10
do the work in four months. They be-
lieve as do the public in general that
the equalization should cover the en-
tire town at once and not by districts,
but this is impossible Of ACCOMPLISH
ment in four months. At the present
rate 1t will take three OF four years
more to cover the whole town Being
in Office but a short time, the tax
payers try to deceive them on what
property they own and motor boats
and autos cannot be ascertained for
certain as to number or value. Inc
board to hold the year round, or even
four months, should have an Office. AS
It is now notes and data which are
made have TO be thrown away at the
end Of the period as there is no place
to keep them.
Nothing to Do With Rate.
The board has many inquiries about
the rate and why, when they have in
creased the list, the rate OF taxation
should also increase. The members
have nothing to say to such inquiries
except that they have nothing to do
with fixing the rate of taxation. They
are endeavoring to place the grand list
on a basis equal for all and if the tax
payers go into town meeting and vote
money away they must expect to meet
it by tax and should not place the
blame on the assessors.
After completing their work Satur-
day morning the assessors signed the
hoOIr and then annaaraH hafOra T0I7r7