Mary Johnson Photo
Vigliotti Housing
Branford’s 2013 net grand list, the economic engine of the town, grew to $3,511,071,799 after veterans and disability exemptions, an increase of about 0.70 percent over last year.
Some towns, those with recent revaluations, saw their grand lists go down.
Branford will undergo a revaluation this year, a state requirement every five years. So next year may be different.
Property values have changed since 2009 when the last revaluation was held, in part because of major damage caused by storms Irene and Sandy and in part because of the economic downturn. The storms created serious economic damage to many homes and properties along the Branford shoreline.
As the assessor’s office writes in a pamphlet sent to all Branford homeowners, “constantly changing economic conditions have caused inequities to develop. The solution to this problem is to reappraise all real estate bringing assessment records up to date with present day values.” The new assessments will be placed on the Oct. 1, 2014, grand list from which a tax bill will be generated and due on July 1, 2015.
The town’s final grand list information also names the top taxpayers in Branford for 2013.
Alex Vigliotti, a well-known developer, the Connecticut Light & Power Company, and Island owner Christine Svenningsen are the three top taxpayers in 2013 in Branford. Vigliotti was the number 1 taxpayer in town last year. He also holds multiple real estate and personal properties whose taxable values came to $38.2 million.
Vigliotti’s new residential development, once called Founders Village and now called Green View Commons, is expected to be renting apartments for those age 55 and older soon. The Vigliotti development on Hillside Avenue is near the center of town and is expected to come onto the town’s tax rolls shortly. (See top photo)
The current second-place holder among the top ten taxpayers is Connecticut Light & Power Company, as it was last year. Its taxable values came to $29.3 million. Svenningsen’s Rogers Island company came in third this year as it did last year. Her properties total $21.7 million, down from $26.5 last year. She owns a number of the Thimble Islands beyond Stony Creek as well as properties in the Creek.
The remaining top taxpayers are: Kiop Branford, a shopping plaza, 4th place, Business Park Realty, a commercial and industrial business owned by Charles Weber, Jr., 5th place, United Illuminating, 6th place, Div. Branford LLC, a commercial and industrial company, 7th place, CSC Montoya, a residential and rental company, 8th place, Bruce & Johnsons Branford Marina, 9th place and Walmart, 10th place.
Town Assessor Barbara Neal said she is pleased with the grand list results. Neal told the Eagle recently that any increase is good given the economic climate.
A town’s grand list is a yearly compilation of values on all real estate, residential and commercial, including personal property (typically business equipment) and motor vehicle values. The Oct 1, 2013, grand list was finalized after the Board of Assessment Appeals heard appeals from residents and reported on the results.
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