Politics & Government

Evergreen Woods Questions Tax Assessment

Representatives from Evergreen Woods presented concerns about the recent increase in their assessment to the North Branford Town Council.

On Feb. 21, the North Branford Town Council started with citizen statements from representatives of Evergreen Woods, a retirement community on Notch Hill Road in North Branford.

Kristen Butler, executive director of Evergreen Woods, represented the facility, which she said houses about 300 residents and is the No. 2 taxpayer in the town of North Branford. About a dozen residents joined Butler at , including Jules Prown, the chairman of the facility’s Finance Committee.

Prown noted that at the committee’s November meeting, they were informed that Evergreen Woods’ assessment increased by 75 percent, which added approximately $2,000 annually to each apartment’s fees.

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“It came as a shock to us,” said Prown. “Many of us have lived here [New England] for most of our lives and we are accustomed to normal increases in assessments and periodic changes in rates, but 75 percent was outside of any range we expected. We were also disturbed that we didn’t find out until November.”

Butler noted that Evergreen Woods received its bill in August–the first time she had seen any notice of the increase–and then attempted to repeal the bill but were told it was too late.

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Prown also said the increased assessment was made without a visit to the property. In mid-December he sent a letter to Mayor and Town Manager concerning the situation, requesting that town officials examine the assessment.

“Unfortunately my letters were not answered so in January I wrote again and Mr. Branigan apologized for not responding,” said Prown. “I suggested a special site visit and he agreed with my letter that it would be desirable to resolve the issue without litigation.”

According to Prown, the owners of Evergreen Woods hired a firm to study the incident and the firm found the town’s assessment firm classified Evergreen Woods as a nursing home when, in fact, it is a continued living facility.

“We’re asking you to work with owners of Evergreen Woods to evaluate the current assessment and to make sure that if it goes to Board of Assessment Appeals that they give it a thorough review,” said Prown.

Candelora requested that Branigan meet with Town Assessor Christine Barta. Councilwoman then questioned why the site visit never happened.

“I can prepare a chronology of the events and under normal circumstances, there would be a site visit,” said Branigan. “Christine’s focus has been on , so with that done, she is now working on making a schedule to get that site visit that didn’t happen before.”

Nafis and Young also made a presentation of plans for the Swajchuk Property at the Feb. 21 meeting.


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