Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-22
Revaluation and Taxation.


 While the meeting was being turned over to Wallace S. Allis by President Wells, most of the noisy opposition forces having accomplished their end, made a noisy exit, shouting that they didn't want to hear anything about taxation.
 The remainder of the meeting was de- voted to discussion on revaluation and tax problems in general.
 MT. Allis, in taking charge of the meeting said: Until the last few years we have not felt the burden of taxation. There lare certain expenses of the town, state and nation which must be paid for by taxation. Taxation is one of those problems that must be met.
 MT. Allis then introduced Joseph Egan, of the state tax commissioners office in Hartford. MT. Egan spoke briefly, quot ing figures to show that the increase in grand lists has not kept pace with the increase in population. He said that in 1880 the population of Norwich was 21,- 143 and the grand list was $1S,169.072. New London had a population of 10,537 and it's grand list was $6,640,000. In 1890 the population of Norwich was 23.- 900 and the grand list about s13,0o0,0 900. New London's population was s13.O0O and it's grand list SS,o00.0 900. In 1910 the population of Norwich was 2S.000 and the grand list about 5000, 900. The population of New London was 1s.Oo0 | and the grand list s17,ooo.o0o. In 1920 the population of New London was 25.- 900 and it's grand List (wae s5S,ooo,Ooo. Norwichs populatHn was 29.0o0 and the Norwich grand list only s1s.0oo. 900.
 MT. Egan said there are only ten towns 1 in the state that have not compiled with Sec. 115S requiring a revaluation of pro- perty every ten years.
 How Hartford Revalued Property. Albert M Simons. chairman of the board of assessors of Hartford, was then introduced by Mr.<Alfs.
 The question of taxation Rin always remain with us said MT. Sfmons. Taxa 1 ton in no matter what form it comes tc us is always unpopular From what l have heard of your community you are
 in the same boat that Hartford was in
 three or four years ago.
 MT Simons then went on to tell how i he found conditions in the assessors of fee in Hartford when he was elected
 and of how he accomplished a revoluo
 ton along equitable lines. It makes .
 great deal of difference to the taxpayer: as body whethe~ property is assessed high or low, lie Ed. The residents o' Norwich are all stockholders in the towr and city of Norwich. No business mar
 will conceal his assets unless he is dis honesty What gre your assets? Your as cts is the granu list.
 If your assets are high your borrow ing power is increased and you are ratet N1. If your assets are low and not LII to valuation your community is looked , upon with suspicion. A manufacture will locate his plant in town wher his taxes will be lowest.
 l<i0o of rn-V9 Ina ton Mir Simon
 said a vital question is the equita bl and equal assessment of property. H , said he doesn't believe in keeping a maj
 in office too long because he gets stale
 And that he doesn't believe in choosin
 assessors by election. He said polite f shouldn't enter into the assessors office Speaking of revaluation of property ac s complished in Hartford. MT. Simons said ] We had no names of owners. We merel 5 had a list of all the property and we wen | around and looked at it. We didn't kno'
 whom it belonged to, and we didn't cart
 We put the assessments on for it's righ valuation, and we found out whom [ belonged to afterwards We assesse ! property for what it was worth regard
 less of who owned it. The result of tn [ revaluaton increased Hartford's gran T list by S146,000,000, the list today bein 2 s263 900, coo. Hartford has a tax rate ( e about 20 mills and everybody is happy. II Out of 50,000 lists, there were 545 aJ
 peals to, the board of relief, and 14 out (
 these 545 were sustained, making a It f duction of $145.000 in the grand list, an f s100,O00 of this was on the stock of or f manufacturing industry.
 = As result of the Hartford revalus | ton, MT. Simons said that the effect = tax payments would be that one-third e the taxpayers were paying a little les
 than they did before, one-third were pa,
 ing about the same, and one-third, wh
 had been getting away with murder ft '- years, were now paying what they ougi l. to have done years ago.
 T One big manufacturing industry tn; u had been assessed for years for sS75, ,0C e was raised to $2.3oO, 900. A big insu
 ance company had it's assessment raise y s1,ooo poo. and there were other simil; e big raises.
 g Mir. Simons said there were thr classes of property to be considered 5 valuation, property occupied for res denees, manufacturing property and me cantile property. No favoritlsm was II be shown in assessing valuations, but il y character of the property might entit
 the owner to consideration. In this ella
 was the small owner of the family hon l. or the two-tenement house. Consideratic
 might also be shown in some instanc [; to manufacturing property, but the pro g. erty owner who occupied the best site ,
 your best street with piece of busine