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WESTON, Conn. Weston's economic future appears to be bright, according to a new report showing that residents spent more money on home improvements and new cars in 2011 than the year before.
The recently released grand list, which is records the assessed value of all taxable property in town, including real estate, motor vehicles and personal property, shows there was a .73 percent jump in 2011 over the prior year.
The 2011 list comes to $2,655,921,586, an increase of $19,216,037 from 2010.
I have no way of predicting the future, but the economy certainly seems hopeful, said Weston Town Assessor Ken Whitman.
The grand list, he said, is a pretty good indicator of how people are spending their money," and according to the numbers, Westonites are ready to loosen their belts.
The 2011 list shows there was an increase of .51 percent in real estate, which Whitman said, accounts for over 94 percent of the total grand list. That increase, he said, is almost entirely a result of residential building improvements. In other words, Westonites are spending money for additions or other improvements to their homes.
Other evidence that Westonites are spending more money, he said, could be found in the towns overall improvement in automotive sales, which increased by $6,205,590 in 2011.
As for businesses in Weston, Whitman said, there was a 1.1 percent increase from last year, indicating that the overall trend of Weston businesses remained fairly flat.
And the top taxpayers? According to Whitman, its Connecticut Light & Power, with real and personal property assessments totaling $12,650,775, followed by Aspetuck Valley Country Club at $10,273,790 and Aquarion Water Company at $7,041,980. These three, he said, have been the top taxpayers for several years.
Taxpayers who wish to appeal their assessment to the Board of Assessment Appeals must do so in writing on the approved application form available in the Weston Assessors office. Applications must be completed in full and received in the assessors office by 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 17.
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