Norwich grand list includes Rose City's top 10 taxpayers

Norwich - Real estate, motor vehicle and personal property values all rose in the past year, resulting in a 1.86 percent jump in the grand list of taxable property based on Oct. 1, 2011, values.

The total value of taxable property in the city is $2.43 billion, a $44 million increase over Oct. 1, 2010, values in the combined three categories, Tax Assessor Donna Ralston said.

Real estate values totaled $2.1 billion, a $19 million, 0.9 percent increase. Ralston said much of that increase was the result of state-mandated, 10 percent assessment penalties on rental properties whose owners did not file a required report on income and expenses.

Motor vehicle values rose by 6.4 percent to a total of $191.1 million. Ralston said many residents bought new vehicles in 2011, and the values of some older vehicles rose.

Personal property values totaled $130.7 million, a 12 percent increase. Ralston said her office has aggressively pursued new and under-reported personal property in the past two years.

The top 10 taxpayers and their total assessments are:

1. Computer Sciences Corp., computer services company, $32.8 million

2. Bob's CT QRS 16-25, Inc., Bob's Discount Furniture distribution center, $23.9 million

3. Plaza Enterprises, retail plaza, $14.78 million

4. Phelps Dodge Industries/Freeport-McMoran Copper Products, manufacturing, $13.7 million

5. Algonquin Transmission LLC, natural gas pipeline, $10.8 million

6. Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Gaming Enterprises, Spa at Norwich Inn and employee parking lot, $9.91 million

7. Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust, retail plaza, $9.9 million

8. Norwich Community Development Corp., 55 Main St., Mercantile Exchange office building, $9.2 million

9. Norwichtown Commons, retail plaza, $9.2 million

10. IBM Credit, equipment leases, $9 million

- Claire Bessette