Granby Board of Selectmen Approve Transfers to Suspense Book, Call for Public Hearing

Nearly $20,000 was transferred Monday to Granby's suspense book of taxes, a list of taxes that are owed but deemed unlikely to be collected. 

The Board of Selectmen voted to transfer $19,405 at its meeting. 

“Transfers to suspense are taxes due that are on the books that have been deemed by the tax office unlikely to be collected,” said Town Manager William Smith. 

Smith said the majority of those on the list are for personal property, namely cars. 

The uncollected taxes could result from residents moving away, deaths, undeliverable mail, among other things, and Smith said the amount usually runs around $20,000, and this year was not far from the average. 

According to minutes from the selectman’s meeting in May of 2010, the board voted to transfer $19,982.57 to be moved to the suspense book last year. 

“Often times, people have a tendency to leave the area and not pay taxes on a car they own,” Smith said. “Rather than keep them as an open item on the book, they are put on suspense after several tries.”

If the parties are found, they are responsible for paying the back taxes, Smith said. And, if a resident moves back and tries to register a vehicle, they must pay the back taxes before being allowed to to re-register it with the Department of Motor Vehicles. 

In other news, a hearing of the Granby Water Pollution Control Authority regarding the sewer use rates for 2011-12 was called by the selectmen for Monday, May 16 at 7:15 p.m. 

According to the same May 2010 minutes, the Granby Water Pollution Control Authority voted last year to set the sewer use rates as follows: minimum of $120 per year for up to 55,000 gallons per year and $.003 per gallon after 55,000. The minimum for commercial and industrial parties is $170 per unit up to 100,000 gallons per year, and $.003 per gallon for anything above the minimum. 

The public hearing will take place directly before the selectmen’s regular meeting, to be held at 7:30 p.m. 

During the public hearing, residents can voice comments or questions regarding the proposed sewer rates for fiscal year 2010-11. At the time of publication, the proposed rates were not available.