West Hartford Grand List Shows Healthy Increase

WEST HARTFORD, CT — West Hartford officials Tuesday released the October 2021 Grand List, which showed an increase of 12.2 percent over the previous year.

The 2021 Grand List reflects updated values based upon the recent town-wide revaluation, and will become the basis for taxation starting with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022.

The total net assessed value of all taxable property, prior to Board of Assessment Appeal actions, is $7,177,283,988, representing an increase in the net taxable list of $781,171,777 over last year.

Mayor Shari Cantor said, “This is a testament to the strength of West Hartford’s local economy, and our community’s vibrancy.”

Based on the revaluation, the 2021 Grand List has increased in all categories.

The Real Property list increased by $644,835,827 or 11.2 percent. Tow officials said the growth is largely attributable to the town-wide revaluation and the continuation of new construction projects, such as those at 71 Waterside Lane, 180 Wood Pond Road, 511 Mountain Road, 11 Griswold Drive, 111 Marion Ave., and two new homes at Gledhill Estates.

With several major projects in the early stages of construction, commercial real estate did not have any significant additions for the 2021 Grand List.

The Motor Vehicle list increased by $115,934,401 or 24.9 percent.

Town officials called the level of increase "unprecedented" and said it stems from supply-and-demand issues triggered by the pandemic.

The 2020 net taxable supplemental list for motor vehicles totaled $78,840,697, an increase of 31.8 percent. The vehicle count on the list increased by 2,322 or 33 percent from the previous list. The year was unique in that it reflects the 90-day closure of the Department of Motor Vehicles at the start of the pandemic, which resulted in delayed registration renewals, officials said.

Lastly, the Personal Property list increased by $20,401,924 or 10 percent, to $224,438,924. With that, West Hartford continued to experience a healthy level of capital equipment re-investment in furniture, fixtures and equipment, surpassing annual depreciation on existing assets. The current business count is 2,690.

There are several noteworthy items for Personal Property this year. The MDC underground tunneling project (from Hartford to West Hartford) has resulted in a $7 million increase in assessment for the contractor’s equipment and machinery. New construction on Eversource’s underground utilities has led to an increase of $13.7 million in assessment value. Lastly, Comcast of CT Inc. has an assessment increase of $2,316,150.

"With that, West Hartford continued to experience a healthy level of capital equipment re-investment in furniture, fixtures and equipment, surpassing annual depreciation on existing assets," officials said.

The current business count is 2,690.

The MDC underground tunneling project (from Hartford to West Hartford) has resulted in a $7 million increase in assessment for the contractor’s equipment and machinery. New construction on Eversource's underground utilities has led to an increase of $13.7 million in assessment value. Comcast of CT Inc. has an assessment increase of $2,316,150.