Little difference exists between North Haven’s top 10 Grand List members in 2009 and 2010. “We’re kind of holding in there for another year,” said town assessor Gary Johns. “We’re hoping for the best for the future.”

Atop North Haven’s 2010 Grand List once again is Covidien, followed by Quinnipiac University, North Haven Industrial LLC, Price REIT, North Haven Commons, North Haven Holdings, Metal Management Inc., Bouwfond’s Preston Crossing, Drazen Properties and Anthem Health Plans.

A grand list catalogues all taxable assets in town, including real estate, motor vehicles and personal property. From this record, municipal leaders can approximate revenue which North Haven would receive from future taxes, providing a basis for a new fiscal year budget and mill rate considerations.

Of the largest 2009 Grand List contributors, only Quebecor/Northeast Graphics fell from 2010’s top 10. In 2008, Quebecor closed down North Haven operations, but still pays taxes on the 297 State Street building and remaining personal property.

Replacing Quebecor in the top 10 is Metal Management Inc. “They claimed a larger amount of personal property this year,” Johns said, “though, most of that is on the exempt line.”

Certain real estate, motor vehicles and personal properties are exempt from taxation. “The state will partially refund us for the loss of revenue,” Johns said.

Overall, North Haven’s $2.827 billion Grand List in 2010 declined 0.28 percent from 2009’s total of $2.835 billion.

Since last year, taxable real estate in town actually went up, reaching $2.48 billion in 2010 after a sum of $2.44 billion in 2009. Motor vehicles also increased, with $190 million in 2010 after 2009 figures tallied $179 million.

However, personal property in 2010 dipped to $154 million, down from $171 million in 2009, a 9.9 percent drop.

Recently, Connecticut leaders increased the rate of exemption on older personal property from 80 percent of value to 100 percent of value, allowing businesses to pay less on municipal taxes for such property.

Personal property exemptions in 2010 came to $109 million, up 18 percent from $92 million in 2009. Total exemptions in 2010, including personal property, real estate and motor vehicles, equaled $125 million, a 14 percent increase over the $107 million in 2009.

The 2009 Grand List represented a 1.52 percent decrease from 2008 numbers, with a $40 million-plus plunge in total taxable property.

Top 10 taxpayers

2010 Grand List

(Pre-Board of Assessment Appeals)

1. Covidien (manufacturing) - $142,465,690 – 2009 rank: 1

2. Quinnipiac University (education) - $53,489,170 – 2009: 2

3. North Haven Industrial LLC (New Breed, Bozzuto’s - distribution) - $28,424,480 – 2009: 3

4. Price REIT (shopping center) - $23,317,700 – 2009: 4

5. North Haven Commons (shopping center) - $21,730,380 – 2009: 5

6. North Haven Holdings (shopping center) - $17,250,310 – 2009: 6

7. Metal Management Inc. (scrap metal recycler) - $16,664,160 – 2009: unranked

8. Bouwfonds Preston Crossing (apartments) - $13,890,660 - 2009: 7

9. Drazen Properties (shopping center) - $11,837,210 – 2009: 9

10. Anthem Health Plans (insurance) - $11,585,410 – 2009: 10