North Stonington — Several area farmers will see an adjustment in their tax bill after additional property tax abatements for farm buildings were discovered in a 2007 ordinance.

The abatements were found by Van Brown, owner of Firefly Farms, in an ordinance which authorizes an optional tax abatement allowed by the state.

The town had been providing a $100,000 tax exemption for farm buildings, if the farm had $15,000 in farm revenue or expenses under the Ordinance Authorizing the Tax Exemption for Farm Machinery and Farm Buildings. The ordinance was passed at a town meeting.

However, upon further scrutiny of the ordinance and discussion with the state Farm Bureau, Brown found that the ordinance actually exempted each farm buildings assessed at less than $100,000, and also exempted an additional $100,000 of farm machinery.

The exemption only applies toward farms that met the $15,000 revenue or expense requirement, and cannot be used for buildings that aren't exclusively used for farming or as residences.

Assessor Darryl DelGrosso sent out letters to a handful of farmers in January, telling them that they could apply to adjust their assessment going back three years, as required by state statute.

According to DelGrosso's calculations, the town will return a little over $14,000 in tax savings, between machinery and buildings, to four farms who weren't receiving the additional abatement for the past three years.

n.lynch@theday.com