Preston Grand list up 1 percent

Preston – The new grand list of taxable property in town rose by about 1 percent in 2011, “encouraging” town officials as they prepare the 2012-13 budget.

The new grand list of real estate, motor vehicles and personal property rose by $5.1 million to a new net total of $456,812,558. All three categories of property rose slightly in the calculations, boosted by the hotel construction on Watson Road.

Real estate assessments totaled $393 million, motor vehicles, $35.7 million and personal property, $21.9 million.

First Selectman Robert Congdon calculated that the increase would bring in an additional $99,559 under the current tax rate, roughly a quarter of a mill.

Congdon called the increase “encouraging,” but cautioned that expenses also are rising in the coming year’s budget, including an expected $400,000 increase in health insurance costs next year.

Top 10 Preston taxpayers:

1. Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, 20 various properties, $3.57 million

2. Julia Tate Properties LLC, hotel under construction, 5 Watson Road, $3 million.

3. TD Bank N.A., Strawberry Park Campground, $2.8 million.

4. William and Margaret Magliaccio, River Road campground, $1.08 million.

5. Henry E. Watson, house and farm, $1.02 million.

6. Green Falls Associates, various parcels, $941,300.

7. Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, various parcels, $921,600.

8. PAF Residential Realty LLC, various parcels, $919,000.

9. Preston Business Park, Inc., land on Route 2, $910,000.

10. PAF Commercial Realty LLC, shopping plaza, Route 165, $894,900