Southington Throws Fiscal Bone To Amusement Park

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The company behind the Lake Compounce amusement park will receive a break on the taxes it owes the Town of Southington.

The Southington Town Council Sept. 12 voted unanimously to grant Festival Fun Parks LLC a tax abatement under Sec. 12-81 under Connecticut General Statues.

As a result, Lake Compounce will have a $7,500-per-year break on taxes for two years.

According to the minutes of the Sept. 12 council meeting the approved measure does not mean the value of the site is changing.

Lake Compounce has property in both Bristol and Southington.

The tax break is expected to help the theme park remain competitive as it continues to seek new means to attract visitors, namely, adding more rides and newer rides to the park offerings.

Southington Town Attorney Alex Ricciardone, who recommended the council approve the tax breaks, said ride offerings, generally, must be changed or upgraded.

"They need to keep building new rides and replacing them or the attraction will drop," he said, according to meeting minutes.

For the minutes of the Sept. 12 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For more information on Lake Compounce, click on this link.