Evidence Mounting Against Tax Assessor -

Exhibit 1, 2 Pages: Below is a letter from the Bethel Tax Assessor citing CT Statutes specific to the taxation of Manufacturing. Note the sections highlighted. Also note that this letter comes directly from Ann Marie Heering herself and is being sent to the manufacturer from her office….

Exhibit 2, 1 Page: Ann Marie Heering , following months of requests from the companies accountant finally provided the detailed list of what she was taxing.

This portion below is just the tip of the iceberg but shows the Tax Assessor exempting (in orange) some of the manufacturing equipment, while taxing similar manufacturing equipment (not in orange) against all applicable and cited State Statutes….

Also included in this report (about 15 pages) is assessed taxes for services performed by contractors two years ago, Tool boxes used to hold the manufacturing equipment and the tools in it.

TAX HISTORY:

This company had a tax liability of less than $2000/yr. prior to this year. Now Ann Marie Heering is assessing a tax of $17,000 while demanding that the company pay over $50,000 for the last three years?

The Company plans to file an assessment appeal and fully intends to take this to the Superior Court if the appeal is denied and if they are continually taxed against State Statute.

GOOD NEWS?:

The Bethel First Selectman is now aware of this new evidence, and has said he will certainly look into it as well as discuss it directly with the company.

WHAT YOU CAN DO?:

For starters, do not re-elect (AJ) Alfred J. Bernard to the Board of Assessment Appeals on Tuesday.

Secondly, if you or anyone you know is being illegally taxed bring the evidence to the First Selectman so he can create the paper trail needed to take appropriate action in this matter.

Where is this all headed:

This company will be filing an appeal that will come before the Tax Assessment Appeals board in the coming year. Should the same appeals board members be re-elected and do as they have done over the prior years and deny the appeal, this will become Bethel’s next big trial and it will cost the tax payers over $50,000 in legal fees as well as a total loss in falsely reported tax revenues.

Good luck Bethel!