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| The Assessor’s primary objective is to ensure that all taxable property located within a town is assessed in accordance with applicable law so that the appropriate share of the total property tax burden is shared by every property owner. To accomplish this objective, assessors must discover, list and equitably value all property within their jurisdictions. In addition, they are responsible for reviewing and approving various forms of property tax relief. | | |
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The result of these efforts is the Grand List: a record of all the taxable and tax-exempt property in a particular town. The assessor is required to complete and sign the grand list by January 31st of each year. Your taxes are calculated by taking your assessment times the mill rate. The mill rate is determined by the yearly budget. The budget there for determines the yearly change in your taxes on a non revaluation year when you have not made any changes to your property. The state of Connecticut mandates that Motor Vehicles be priced according to the NADA pricing guides and then assessed at 70% of the Retail value. A motor vehicle twenty years old or older which is being preserved because of historic interest and which is not altered or modified from the original manufacturer’s specifications cannot be assessed at more than $500. Real estate assessments in Connecticut are calculated by taking 70% of the market value that is set as of the last Revaluation. Bridgewater’s last revaluation was as of October 1, 2006. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. |
| Hours |
| | | | Assessor Department Hours | | | Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
| | 8 AM – 12:30 PM
8 AM – 3:30 PM
8 AM – 12:30 PM
CLOSED
8 AM – 12:30 PM
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| Additional Information |
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GRAND LIST
Grand List of Taxable Property for Town of Bridgewater (GL Value 1/25/2010) | Real Estate | $386,923,392 | | Elderly Home Owners Net | $ 8,276,330 | | Motor Vehicles | $ 16,168,910 | Personal Property | $ 3,718,476 | | | | | Total Net Assessment | $415,087,108 | | | | | Mill Rate for 2009 Grand List | 15.5 |
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Revaluation
Connecticut mandates that each town "Revalue" their property every five years. Assessments remain the same until the next revaluation unless changes are made to the property or errors are discovered. Bridgewater’s next revaluation will be October 1, 2011. The 2011 revaluation will be an update of our assessments, and therefore interior inspections will not be necessary unless changes have been made to the property. We will be starting the Revaluation project this fall. Inspectors from the Revaluation Company and I will be driving by each property over the next year starting in the fall at various times. The resident state trooper, constables and our office will have a description and license plate of each vehicle that will be doing the drive-by inspections if you should have any questions please feel free to contact us. We will notify you as time gets closer with more information. CLICK TO VISIT:
VISION APPRAISAL TAXPAYER REVALUATION INFORMATION PAGE |
Board of Assessment Appeals
The Board of Assessment Appeals is an official municipal agency that is designed to serve as an appeal body for taxpayers who believe that the town assessor erred in the valuation of their properties or erroneously denied them exemptions. The Board meets twice a year, in March to hear Real Estate, Motor Vehicles on the Supplemental List and Personal Property disputes. The board also meets in September to hear Motor Vehicle disputes on the Regular Motor Vehicle list. Applications are required and available in the Assessor’s office. The Applications for the March meeting are due back by February 20th.
For Real Estate appeals if an appraisal is presented it must have values as of the last revaluation as that is what your assessment is based on. An appraisal is not necessary to meet with the Board. Information necessary to substantiate your assessment adjustment to the Board is necessary. Such information would be an appraisal with values from the last revaluation or sales preceding the date of the Revaluation. The Board’s responsibility is to review your assessment only and not compare it with other properties in town. The factors used in assessing your property are similar to the ones used in selling your property and each property is unique.
click to visit the Board of Assessment Appeals page |
Assessment Data
Due to budget cuts, assessment Data for our town will not be available after July 1, 2010 on Vision Appraisal. Assessment data is available in the Assessor's Office. |
Public Act #490
Taxpayers who wish to file for Farm Land, Forest Land or Open Space under Public Act #490 must do so between September 1st and October 31st. A certified state forester must approve your Forest land status on or before September 30th, so please apply early as the process does take a while.
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Personal Property
Personal property forms are mailed out early October and due back November 1st. Personal property is considered all (moveable) property owned by anyone engaged in a business enterprise in the State of Connecticut, unless specifically exempt. Examples of Personal Property are tools, office furniture, fixtures etc. Even persons not engaged in a business enterprise may own property subject to Personal Property taxation. For example, unregistered motor vehicles including snow mobiles, trailers, larger scooters, ATV. Tractors not used for business purposes are not taxable. Horses used for pleasure are also not taxable. |
Veteran's Exemption
Attention Veterans- you may qualify for a Veteran’s exemption. You must file your original honorable discharge papers with the Town Clerk before September 30, 2010.
If you are a Veteran and your income is $32,300 or under if single or $39,500 if married you may qualify for an Additional Veteran benefit. Applications are available in the Assessor’s office and must be returned by October 1st. If you know of a resident of Bridgewater who is an Active-Duty Serviceman with a Motor Vehicle Garaged Out of State please contact our office as they may be qualified for a total tax exemption of one automobile. |
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Renter’s Program
Applications are being accepted for the Renter’s Program for the Elderly and Totally Disabled. In order to qualify for this program you must be 65 or older, a surviving spouse, or Totally Disabled and your income must be $32,300 or under if single or $39,500 or under if married. Applications are available in the Assessor’s office and must be returned by September 15th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. |
Certification of being Totally Disabled or Blind
must be filed with our office by October 1, 2010 in order to receive your benefit on the 2010 Grand List. This program is not based on your income. |
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