The 2009 North Haven grand list represents a 1.52 percent decrease over last year’s list, including a $43.427 million decrease in taxable property, according to documents filed by town assessor Gary Johns on Jan. 29.

After exemptions and credits, and before board of assessment appeals inspections, the 2009 grand list stands at $2.816 million, compared to last year’s $2.859 million. The decrease would represent a tax revenue loss of $1.019 million, according to First Selectman Michael Freda.

“It’s early, but it’s looking like there will be a significant revenue decrease,” Freda said on Monday. “We are working on various levels to solve this problem.”

The grand list catalogues all of the town’s taxable property, allowing town officials to predict the revenue that North Haven will receive from taxes and providing a starting point for the town’s new fiscal year budget considerations.

The grand list is made up of three sections – real estate, which includes both residential and commercial; personal property, such as business equipment; and motor vehicles, both personal and commercial.

Real estate and motor vehicles decreased, while personal property actually increased.

The 9,278 real estate properties counted for the 2009 grand list represent $2.495 billion in taxable property, a 1.97 percent decrease from the 9,629 real estate properties counted in 2008 for $2.545 billion in taxable property.

The 24,701 motor vehicles counted for the 2009 grand list represent $184.261 million in taxable property, a 1.06 percent decrease from the 25,082 vehicles counted in 2008 for $187.185 million in taxable property.

The 1,404 personal property items counted for the 2009 grand list represent $263.256 million in taxable property, a 1.07 percent increase from the 1,425 items counted in 2008 for $245.564 million in taxable property.

Freda said that the $1.019 million tax revenue decrease will have to be dealt with in addition to the $5.5 million shortfall he has been predicting in the current budget.

“It’s not a pretty picture,” Freda said. “This is due to a variety of reasons, including a lack of growth here in North Haven over the last couple of years.”

“This confirms what I had thought all along,” Freda added. “Last year’s grand list revenue declined by $200,000. This year we have a revenue decline of over $1 million. This is the exact reason why I have been feverishly creating opportunity for economic development in town.”

Although a decrease in taxable revenue would normally indicate an increase in the town’s mill rate, and a hike in taxes, Freda would not say yet where he believed the mill rate would be set.

“We’re still working through budget workshops,” Freda said. “We’re not yet at the point where we’re determining where the mill rate would be.”

“Once we’re through budget season, the mill rate will be set based on that budget,” Freda added.

Freda was unsure why personal property increased from 2008. “I’m still trying to get analysis on that,” he said.

Freda said that the decrease in motor vehicles could be due to the recession. “People are holding onto their old cars longer and not getting new cars,” he said, “and the taxes on a vehicle are lowered with the vehicle’s age.”

The 2008 grand list represented a 0.3 percent decrease from 2007.

Top 20 taxpayers

2009 Grand List (Pre-Board of Assessment Appeals)

(Includes real estate, personal property and motor vehicles)

1. Covidien (manufacturing) - $143,187,640 – 2008 Rank: 1

2. Quinnipiac University (education – gross assessment including tax exempt) - $53,489,170 – 2008: 2

3. North Haven Industrial LLC (New Breed/Bozzuto’s) $28,424,480 – 2008: 3

4. Price REIT (retail - Universal Drive – Home Depot to BJ’s) $23,317,700 – 2008: 5

5. North Haven Commons (retail – Universal Drive – Best Buy, etc.) $21,730,380 – 2008: 12

6. North Haven Holdings (retail – Universal Drive – Target plaza not counting Target) - $17,250,310 – 2008: 6

7. Bouwfonds Preston Crossing (apartments - former Avalon Haven) $13,890,660 – 2008: 7

8. Quebecor / Northeast Graphics (printing) $13,883,850 – 2008: 4

9. Drazen Properties (retail - Stop & Shop and north) $11,837,210 – 2008: 9

10. Anthem Health Plans (insurance – personal property only) $11,689,810 – 2008: 15

11. Target Corporation (retail) $11,122,020 – 2008: 10

12. United Illuminating Co. (public utility) $11,119,030 – 2008: 13

13. Galileo Combs (retail - Universal Drive – PetSmart and Barnes and Noble) $11,059,930 – 2008: 8

14. Marlin Firearms (manufacturing) $10,498,110 – 2008: No Rank

15. Brescombe Barton Inc. (distribution) $9,269,920 – 2008: 19

16. Rosewood LLC (apartments) – $9,212,210 – 2008: 14

17. Briarwood Connecticut (apartments) - $8,881,600 – 2008: 11

18. 325 Lafayette Street Associates LLC (Big Y, Outback) - $8,739,570 – 2008: No Rank

19. 600 Washington Avenue LLC (auto delaerships) - $8,614,410 – 2008: No Rank

20. Southern Connecticut Gas Co (public utility) - $8,214,830 – 2008: No Rank

On the Top 20 in 2008 but missing from top 20 in 2009 – 415 Washington Ave. (former Pratt and Whitney site, structure and land), Cross Roads Development Assoc. (office building on Divine Street), FBC North Haven Partners LLC (Stop & Shop plaza Walgreens and Dairy Queen), National Amusements Inc. (movie theater on Universal Drive).

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