Date: Fri 20-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

tax-assessment-Taunton-Press

Full Text:

Taunton Press Challenges Tax Assessment In Court

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

The Taunton Press, Inc, has lodged a court appeal against the town's Board of

Assessment Appeals, alleging that the town has overassessed the value of

Taunton's properties at 63 South Main Street and at 10 Mile Hill Road.

In papers filed June 11 at Danbury Superior Court, the company states the town

on October 1, 1996, set the 63 South Main Street property's assessed value at

$5,134,420, including $3,847,550 for buildings, $1,267,880 for land, and

$18,990 for outbuildings.

Because the town sets the tax-assessed values of property at 70 percent of

their estimated fair market value, that would put the market value of

Taunton's holdings on South Main Street at $7,334,886.

The tax assessor improperly determined the true and actual value of the

property and has overvalued it and overassessed it, according to the lawsuit.

Taunton Press appealed the values to the Board of Assessment Appeals, but the

values weren't reduced, according to the suit.

Also, the company states it owns two lots at 10 Mile Hill Road.

The town assessor set the overall value of the two lots there, including

buildings, land, and outbuildings, at a tax-assessed value of $684,000, the

suit states. Based on tax-assessed values representing 70 percent of the

property's estimated fair market value, that would put the market value of the

Mile Hill Road property at $977,143.

The tax assessor improperly determined the true and proper value of the

property and has overvalued and overassessed it, according to the lawsuit.

Although the company appealed the assessment to the town's Board of Assessment

Appeals, the board didn't reduce the assessment, the suit states.

Overall, the tax assessments for all the properties total $5,818,420, placing

their estimated fair market value at $8,312,029.

Through the lawsuit, Taunton Press seeks: a reduction of the valuations of the

three properties; a refund of the company's overpayment of taxes, representing

an amount equal to or greater than $15,000, exclusive of interest and costs;

interest costs on the tax overpayments; court costs, and other relief.

The company doesn't specify by what amount its holdings are overassessed by

the town.

Taunton Press is represented by Pullman and Comley, LLC, of Hartford.

The town has a court answer date of July 15 to respond to the allegations made

in the lawsuit.