Assessor's Office
The primary responsibility of the Assessor's Office is to compile the Grand List. The Grand List is the aggregate value of all taxable and tax-exempt property in the town. The Grand List serves as the basis for the town's budget and tax rate. Compiling the Grand List is accomplished by identifying and placing value on all of the property located in the Town of Ellington as of October 1 of each year. This process is required by Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 12-55.
Currently, real estate assessments are 70% of the market value as established by the October 1, 2020 revaluation. Personal Property and Motor Vehicles are also assessed at 70% annually. Property revaluation occurs every 5 years. Ellington's current schedule for revaluation is 2025, 2030, 2035. This schedule was established pursuant to Public Act 22-74.
Currently, real estate assessments are 70% of the market value as established by the October 1, 2020 revaluation. Personal Property and Motor Vehicles are also assessed at 70% annually. Property revaluation occurs every 5 years. Ellington's current schedule for revaluation is 2025, 2030, 2035. This schedule was established pursuant to Public Act 22-74.
The Assessor's Office is preparing for the 2025 revaluation. For more details on the revaluation process visit this link here. It is important to keep in mind that whenever property is revalued, there is generally a change in the town's mill (tax) rate.
The Assessor's Office is also responsible for administering various exemptions and tax relief programs. These programs are targeted to benefit:
- Active military servicemen and veterans
- Blind individuals
- Charitable organizations
- Farmers and owners of land classified as farm, forest and open space
- Manufacturers
- Senior citizens
- Totally disabled individuals
If you are unsure if you qualify for any of these programs, please call or email our office and we will be happy to help you.
Understanding the Mill Rate
During the budget process the Board of Finance determines how much revenue it will need to operate for the upcoming year. All forms of income or revenue are subtracted from the total operating budget, leaving the remaining portion to be raised by taxes. This portion is divided by the total net taxable assessments of the Town (grand list). The result is the mill rate.
[Market value] x [70%]= Assessed Value (70% of market value)
[Assessed value] x [Mill rate] / 1000 = Tax due
Example: House valued at $300,000
$300,000 x .70 = $210,000
$210,000 x 34.3 = $7,203,000 / 1000 = $7,203 (tax due)
Motor Vehicle Assessments
The mill rate for motor vehicle's is capped by law at 32.46. Pursuant to Public Act 22-118 and Public Act 24-1 (June Spec Sess), motor vehicles will be assessed differently effective with the 10/1/2024 grand list.
Assessors will now use the manufacture suggested retail price (MSRP) of your vehicle and apply the statutory depreciation schedule to calculate the depreciation of your vehicle. The depreciated value will then be multiplied by 70%, producing the assessed value for tax purposes.
The assessed value of your vehicle will automatically decrease each year, but will be assessed at no less than $500 at any time.