Norwich bulletin., 1917-11-14
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES
 IN TAX AssEssMENrs LIKELY
Individual Property Owners as We'll as Corporations Will Doubtless Be Af- feeted by the Readjustnnert

A. member. of the-board of assessors stated Tuesday that there will likely be a substantial increase in tax as- sessments against some of the cor porations of the town of Ki1iingly as the result of the discussion of tax
 matters interpolated during the dis
 cliss1on of the towns affairs, at the adjourned annual town meeting last Monday evening.
 The matter of fixing assessments ir, kiiIingiy has for years past been a subject on which much has been said
 and it is again at the forefroEa of mat ters of great public irnportaUse local
 ly. Much that is ridiculous has been
 said and done. it is claimed by those
 who have made a study of the ques-
 tion, on the subject of taxation. here,
 and the present promised effort at re- adjustment will have the closest atten-
 tion of the. assessment board.
 During the past two or three years
 Ki11inglys grand list has been sub
 jected to much scrutiny by assessors
 and some very substantial increases in
 assessments have been made. The
 net gain, too. has been very consider
 able, though it is claimed that the
 grand list figures have been material
 ly reduced from what the total would
 have been but for some heavy reduc-
 tions made by the board of relief.
 It is recognized by careful students of the taxation question as applied to
 the town of Kil1ingly that it is one that will require exceedingly pains
 taking and efficient treatment if ben efits, ratI'er than material if indirect
 damage is to result. Over harsh treat
 ment in assessing any property, of
 whatever class, can produce injury, as
 under assessment produces dfscord and
 dissatisfaction. Equitable treatment of every class of property in fixing the
 taxing rate is all that is demanded by
 those who have the best interests of the town at heart.
 Whether or not this town on a 10-
 mill tax rate can pay running expens- es as great as the town is now
 obliged to to meet. providing there is
 a revaluation of Killingly's property! is a matter on which there is a great
 diversion of opinion.
 It was pointed out Tuesday by a we'll known Killingly man. however. that corporations are not the only property owners that have what some consid- CT favored assessments. There are it is claimed, many pieces of valuable woodland property that are not filed by owners at anywhere near the real value of these properties: there are farm places under-assessed, it is said as there are others that may be very
 sligh1y over assessed; there are stocks of merchandise that are in the list for far less than their real value Reval- uation will mean, it is horked fair treatment on every class of property It is not expected to mean increa sing taxes on corporations alone, hut also making increases wherever an increase is warranted.
 There is a general sentiment in fa- vor of revaluing KiIlingIy's property and recognition of the fact that it must be done so equitahiy that there shall be neither discrimination in favor of nor punitive action against any CSass or classes of property. A square deal for everybody will heal some some spots in town affairs that are now fre- quently the cause of irritating exchang-