Town abandons taxing pricey personal goods

WINDHAM – Faced with an outcry from residents, town officials on Tuesday gave up on a plan to begin collecting personal property taxes on snowblowers, riding lawn mowers, ATVs and other high-priced items.

The decision to abandon the idea was announced after an overflow crowd turned out at the town hall to speak out against new taxes on Tuesday night.

Communities are empowered under state law to tax items of personal property valued at more than $1,000, but most do not attempt to exercise that power.

The decision to drop the plan drew applause, but didn’t stop residents from complaining that taxes were too high and that some residents no longer can afford to live in Windham.

Scott Doody told councilors that the assessed valuation of his home has increased by $130,000 in the past three years.

“You need to step back and look at what you’re spending your money on,” he said.

Assessor Bob Tripp told town councilors this summer that he would begin taxing the items allowed by law. In a memo to councilors on Tuesday, Tripp wrote that his decision to not tax personal property came after a majority of the council turned against his plan.

“I have decided that it is not possible to implement this plan to expand the tax base,” he wrote.

Opponents questioned whether the increase in revenue would outweigh the cost of enforcing the law and suggested that the assessor’s staff would get bogged down tracking down residents who neglect to list their property.