The information on the Norwich assessment in the Dec. 29 edition of The Day, “Norwich assessments jolt property owners,” by Claire Bessette, demonstrates the deception that the assessor, Bill Lee, and City Manager Salomone are giving to inquiring taxpayers. These unelected city officials tell us, “but the Grand List will be going up, so the mill rate will come down.” This is not disclosing the whole story! The mill rate won’t come down enough to offset the property owner’s assessment increase. Homeowners listen up, my and your tax bills ARE going up! WHY? Because Assessor Lee points out, that “home values shot up about 60% overall.”

Then Lee also reports that “commercial property values . . . remained steady, and industrial values rose slightly.” So, as I see their plan, homeowners will pay a greater share, i.e., more of the City Budget next year, while commercial and Industrial owners will pay less. The current Norwich Grand List is $2.13 billion, with real estate being $1.68 billion of the total (see The Day, Feb. 25, 2023). This $1.68 billion includes the values of the homeowners, commercial, and industrial property. So, if homeowner’s values are going up 60%, while commercial and industrial values up only slightly. Who, I ask you, will be pay more of the city budget next year?

Martin Shapiro

Norwich