The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-17


local realtor, today endorsed the sug-
gestion of Edwin 8. Hunt, treasurer
of the Waterbury Savings Bank, that
general revaluation Of all property
in Waterbury for assessment pur-
poses be made. Mr.. Rosengarten how
ever, does not favor Mr.. Hunts sug-
gestion that, pending the revaluation
fat 10 per cent reduction Of all
assessments be made.
In a letter to The Democrat, Mr..
Rosengarten declares that every real
estate man knows Of glazing inequal-
tiles in present assessments Some
property is assessed at far, too high
a figure, he says, while other proper
ty is assessed at less than fair fig
ure.
Tax Reductions
Mr.. Rosengarten asserts that re-
duction of the tax rate next year Is
preferable to a general reduction of
all assessments before revaluation
is made. He expressed the belief that
fair, disinterested revaluation
would leave the city grand list at
about its present figure, implying
that many present low assessments
would be raised, balancing reductions
in present assessments that are too
high.
Mr.. Rosengarten's letter follows:
June II, l940.
Editor of The Democrat,
Dear Sir: It Is well that a man Of
Mr.. Edwin 8. Hunts position and
intimate knowledge, and expert
ence with the subject addressed
such letter to the Board Of As
SCISSORS as appeared In the June
14th issue of the Democrat, In
which he properly and pointedly
called attention to an inequitable
condition the Board Of Assessors
or someone outside the board
should correct with reference to
assessments.
Although Mr.. Hunt suggests a
general straight 10 per cent re-
duction Of assessments, pending
reassessment Of all property, 1t is
my considered judgment, that such
a reduction, even though 1t would
be favored and welcomed by all
tax payers, nevertheless, would not
be in a direction that would tend
to correct what, In my opinion, is
the fundamental unSoundneSs of
our present inequitable system of
assessing.
Fairness, Equality
What Is needed Is an intelligent
and so-called scientific revaluation
which would In large measure,
equalize assessments. Perfection
probably cannot be attained and
certainly would not be maintained,
but ] do believe that the result OF
such revaluation would be some
thing that would approximate rea-
sonable fairness and equality.
Any local real estate man, and
particularly one what has had some
experience in appraising, knows
that there are thousands Of fla
grant discrepancies In the assess.
ments Of local property. While
there are beyond question very
large number Of parcels that are
assessed at anywhere from 100 to
200 per cent of their fair values,
one can also find perhaps an equal
number Of parcels that are assessed
as low or even lower than so per
cent of their fair value. / think 1t
Is fair to point out that the exist
ence of discrepancies in assess
ments Is not one that is peculiar to
Waterbury. All persons informed In
such matters know that 1t is a
condition that exists to a greater
or lesser degree In most cities, es-
pecially where valuations and as
sessments are pretty much deter
mined In "hit or miss fashion" or
what is known to real estate men
as horseback appraisal methods"
Over Assessed Payers
The graduation Of 10 per cent, as
suggested by Mr.. Hunt, would, Of
course. favor all property owners
and while 1t would be Of relatively
little help to those who are over
assessed and who are carrying
much more than their fair share
of the tax load, 1t would at the
same time place those who are
now enjoying an advantage In an
even more advantageous position.
Further more, the result Of such
reduction would deprive the city
of approximately 100000 Of reve-
nue. and despite the present adj
ministration's rigid economies and
close scrutiny of expenditures, 1t Is
a sum which ] doubt whether the
city could cut OF its income, and at
the same time appreciably reduce
the tax rate. which would result
In further reduction Of income and
yet continue to render many i'm
portant services which should not
be impaired and also make essen
tial repairs and improvements to
streets. etc.
From q psychological point Of
view, think that between the two
courses it would be much more de-
sirable To have q lower tax rate,
because as q matter az fact. pco-
pie usually inquire concerning the
tax rate. not the basis Of assess
ment. which Is supposed and Is
tsnssnfiu nessfgtaad IN he AT least In