www.WashingtonCT.org The Town of Washington, Connecticut Assessor

Office: Main level of Bryan Memorial Town Hall Hours: 9:00 AM - Noon, 1:00 PM - 4:45 PM Telephone: 860-868-0398 Fax: 860-868-3103 Note that several departments share this fax line, so be sure to address your document clearly! Email: assessor@washingtonct.org U.S. Mail Address: Assessor Town of Washington P.O. Box 383 Washington Depot, CT 06794 Street Address: Assessor Town of Washington 2 Bryan Plaza Washington Depot, CT 06794 Appointed Officials: (4-year term) • Barbara S. Johnson Staff: • Denise E. S. Arturi, Assistant

May 5, 2008 REVALUATION INSPECTIONS WASHINGTON- The process of gathering information for the upcoming revaluation - due October 1, 2008 - is continuing into the second section. Jonathan Wells, a representative of Total Valuation Service will be the person coming to your door. He will carry identification from the Town of Washington. Since this is the first time since 1989 that interior inspections will be required, the cooperation of residents is encouraged. If his visit comes at an inconvenient time, there will be an opportunity to make an appointment. The purpose of revaluations is to price properties at their true and actual value. This is usually referred to as fair market value and the assessment will be seventy percent (70%) of that figure. There has been a change in the market since the last revaluation in 2003 and there well may be another change before 2008. Sales for the past year or two will be analyzed to arrive at equitable values. Inspections for the following areas of Town will begin in mid-May: Barnes Road, Curtis Road, Ferry Bridge Road, Frisbie Road, Kirby Road, Kirby Brook Road, Moody Bridge Road, Nichols Hill Road, Painter Ridge Road, Rossiter Road, Roxbury Road (Rt. 199), School Street, South Street, Two Rod Highway.

Services Provided:

Information on all real property in the town of Washington as well as business personal property. Ownership and assessment information will be given over the phone. For specific details on a particular property, a request by mail or in person, is necessary.

Grand List

The October 1, 2007 Grand List is now available for download. The source is www.grandlistdata.info, which gets the information directly from the Assessor's office. They charge a $80 fee for their raw data file.

Your webmaster has downloaded this data and imported it into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. You may prefer to download these files for free:

• GrandList2007RE.xls (real estate)
• GrandList2007MV.xls (motor vehicles)
• GrandList2007PP.xls (personal property)

Did You Get Rid of a Vehicle?

See Motor Vehicle Tax Bill Information and Instructions

Assessment Appeals

See Board of Assessment Appeals

Tax Assistance for Elderly and Veterans

Washington homeowners who were sixty-five or older by December 31, 2007, or who are receiving Social Security disability payments may be eligible for credit on their property tax. Their property must be their principle residence and their total income including Social Security must be less than $29,800 single and $36,500 married.

Applications are available in the Assessor's office and must be filed by May 15th.

Persons currently receiving a veteran's exemption may be eligible for an additional exemption if they meet the above income requirements. There is no age requirement for the additional exemption. Application period is from February 1 to October 1.

In addition to the above credit from the state, residents may be eligible for a local tax credit. Again, applicants must be sixty-five or older by December 31, 2007 and must have been taxpayers of the town for a period of (3) three years prior to their application. For the town credit, income, including Social Security, shall not exceed $39,500.

Tax Assistance for Elderly or Disabled Renters and Veterans

Maximum Income Requirements for 2007: Married: $36,500; Single: $29,800

Certain property owners who rent in Washington and meet the income requirements above may be eligible for some tax relief. Some additional requirements include residence in Connecticut for any one year period prior to filing and 35% of the total rent and utility payments must exceed 5% of annual income.

• Persons 65 years of age at the end of the previous calendar year
• Persons receiving total disability awards from Social Security Applications must be filed between May 15 and September 17.

Veterans registered with the Town Clerk can receive an additional veterans' exemption against real estate or motor vehicle tax. The income requirements above apply, though there is no age restriction. Applications must be filed between February 1 and October 1.

Tax Exemptions For Veterans

The Assessor's office reminds residents who are honorably discharged veterans, who served at least 90 consecutive days during wartime or have a disability rating, that they may be eligible for tax exemptions.

Veterans who already have filed with the town for their tax exemption and who are not disabled or low-income do not need to file again.

To receive exemptions, veterans who have not previously filed with the town must provide the original or certified copy of their discharge papers (DD214) to the town clerk on or before Sept. 30. This filing needs to be done only once, as long as the veteran remains a town resident.

Disabled veterans must file their disability certificates from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with the assessment office each year by Jan. 31. The disability certificate must be filed annually until the veteran reaches age 65. At age 65, filing is no longer required and the exemption will be automatic.

Personal Property Declarations

Local businesses, such as plumbers & carpenters, farmers & shop owners, home offices & professional offices are required by state statue to file personal property declarations every year between October 1st and November 1st. Property to be declared includes furniture, fixtures, office equipment, computers, construction equipment, farm & lawn equipment, vending machines, unregistered motor vehicles, etc. Businesses owning personal property located in Washington, though based elsewhere, must also file. Failure to declare personal property by Nov. 1 carries a 25 percent penalty.

The Assessor’s office will be mailing declaration forms to all businesses that have previously filed. For those who do not receive forms, declarations are available at the Assessor's office in Bryan Memorial Town Hall. Please call 860-868-0398 for further information.

Our Most Frequently Asked Question

• What is the mill rate?

  For tax year 2007-2008, the mill rate is 12.50.

Mill Rate History

Grand List Date	Net Total	Change	Tax Year	Mill Rate	Change
October 1985			1986-1987	31.25
October 1986			1987-1988	31.25	0.0%
October 1987			1988-1989	35.00	12.0%
October 1988			1989-1990	39.00	11.4%
October 1989 *	$428,085,359		1990-1991	13.80	-64.6%
October 1990	$434,123,586	1.4%	1991-1992	14.75	6.9%
October 1991	$438,846,054	1.1%	1992-1993	15.10	2.4%
October 1992	$449,779,440	2.5%	1993-1994	15.10	0.0%
October 1993	$456,326,133	1.5%	1994-1995	15.30	1.3%
October 1994	$466,636,988	2.3%	1995-1996	16.00	4.6%
October 1995	$480,203,220	2.9%	1996-1997	16.50	3.1%
October 1996	$486,372,150	1.3%	1997-1998	17.00	3.0%
October 1997	$494,162,690	1.6%	1998-1999	17.50	2.9%
October 1998	$503,834,790	2.0%	1999-2000	17.50	0.0%
October 1999 *	$578,447,420	14.8%	2000-2001	15.25	-12.9%
October 2000	$589,690,720	1.9%	2001-2002	15.75	3.3%
October 2001	$605,889,880	2.7%	2002-2003	15.75	0.0%
October 2002	$620,740,760	2.5%	2003-2004	16.00	1.6%
October 2003 *	$912,541,180	47.0%	2004-2005	11.00	-31.3%
October 2004	$932,023,030	2.1%	2005-2006	11.00	0.0%
October 2005	$950,152,840	1.9%	2006-2007	12.00	9.1%
October 2006	$966,752,170	1.7%	2007-2008	12.50	4.2%
October 2007	$981,705,190	1.6%	2008-2009

* Reassessment

Annual Reports:

See the Town Annual Report for yearly reports on the activities of the Assessor.