Utilities top list of city taxpayers

Grand list grows to more than $2 billion

TORRINGTON — The city’s grand list of taxable properties grew by 2.22 percent in 2020, to more than $2.1 billion, according to a report by Assessor Thomas DiStasio.

According to DiStasio’s report, Eversource holds the top spot on the grand list with taxable property of $51 million.

Increases to the city’s real estate holdings, including residential, commercial, industrial and public utilities, are a result of improvements to those properties, in addition to a few commercial properties that are no longer tax exempt, DiStasio said.

“Personal property increased, due to the continued improvement of infrastructure, and relocation of equipment,” he said.

But DiStasio also said, “Motor vehicle property values have also increased due to new vehicle purchases, which was a direct result of many new incentives and decreasing gas prices.”

The grand list of taxable property for 2020 totals $2,084,631,732, an increase of $45,278,850 over 2019’s total of $2,039,352,882.

Real estate increased by $24,012,610, or 1.48 percent. Personal property holdings increased by $7,677,330, or 3.85 percent; and motor vehicle holdings increased by $13,588,910, or 6.11 percent, DiStasio’s report shows.

The city’s top taxpayer for 2020 is Eversource, formerly Connecticut Light and Power, with $51, 077,010 in total taxable property. Yankee Gas is second, with $39,552,450, the report shows.

Others at the top of the list are: the Torrington Water Co., $22,146,260; Dudrow Torrington LLC, $17,499,200; TIC & GG Torrington LLC, $15,347,139; SL Torrington LLC, TIC; O & G Industries Inc., $11,440,420; Target Corp., $ 9,687,510; Torrington Commons Improvements LLC, $ 9,576,200; Keystone Place at Newbury Brook LLC, $ 9,250,690; and Northbridge Torrington Assisted Living, $8,619,523.

City officials, led by Mayor Elinor Carbone, continue to find

ways to improve vacant properties to bring them back on the tax rolls. The city is trying to put its nonprofit Torrington Development Corporation in charge of the shuttered Yankee Pedlar Inn on Main Street. Public Act 19-92, CGA 8-169AA, allows a municipality to petition for receivership to rehabilitate a building and prepare it for sale or to return it to the owner. The city’s expenses to do the work would be reimbursed either by the sale of the property or by the owner, Carbone said.

This week, Carbone showed her support of an effort to ease the burden on city and town dependence on property taxes through the state’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes program.

Carbone on Tuesday joined other municipal and state leaders to show support for more state funding to help Torrington and others continue to grow. The mayor joined New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, state Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and others to talk about recently approved legislation that would re-tier the historically underfunded Payment in Lieu of Taxes program and provide much-needed relief for cities and towns.

“If we are going to recover from the pandemic, we need to make sure all our towns and cities can be made whole without pushing a greater tax burden on our residents and businesses,” Carbone said. “This is a critical step forward that recognizes the budget constraints we all face, but still responsibly delivers essential aid to towns and cities.”

A large coalition of mayors and first selectmen, including Carbone, have gotten behind HB 6516 to get it passed.