001Mhm. >> All right, welcome everyone. Welcome. So, first tonight, >> [clears throat] >> All right, first up tonight actually we have our public hearing for these two town ordinances. Dan, why don't you read the public hearing notice? Town of Rocky Hill will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 20th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers of the town hall, 761 Old Main Street, Rocky Hill, Connecticut to amend town ordinance one, chapter 223 taxation, article 14, property tax exemption for buildings used in farming, section 223/43 and 223/45, increasing the assessed value to be exempted for buildings used in farming to $500,000 and allowing the assessor to extend the filing date for such exemption. Number two, chapter 223 taxation, article eight, property tax exemption for farm machinery, section 223/41 and 223-42, increasing the assessed value
002to be exempted for machinery used in farming farming to $500,000 and allowing the assessor to extend the filing date for such exemption. Copies of the proposed ordinance is on file in the town clerk's office and has been posted on the town website. Interested parties may be heard at this time. Dated at Rocky Hill, Connecticut, this 9th day of April 2026. But, for the record, Ray Carpentino, town manager. >> [clears throat] >> Um these two uh uh ordinance revisions um deal with as was stated um farm machinery and equipment and farm buildings. Um effective October 1st, 2025 um the state significantly increased the mandatory property tax exemption for farm machinery from $100,000 to $250,000 of assessed value. Um we I think we already we we already implemented an an increase in machinery um a couple years
003ago. So, this will boost machinery exemption up to $500,000. Um similar um farm buildings um gives the option now for municipalities to um extend the tax exemptions up to $500,000 for buildings involved with farming. Um farming is um statutory, so it depends you know the eligibility is criteria is included in the statute, so you know they have to meet certain income levels, certain retail uh cost um thresholds, which I'm sure the assessor can come up and explain in about 5 seconds. >> [laughter] >> So, uh Stewart's going to run you through the handout that [clears throat] we just gave to you. It's a quick spreadsheet um it indicating the exemptions for farm buildings and farm machinery as well as the the values, so um and I know Mona has the totals It's okay. total for
004you to give you an idea of the amount of uh exempt taxes. Good evening. I'm Stewart Tapp with the assessor. Um the the income guidelines for the farm exemption is $15,000 in sales or expenses. So, if they um spend $15,000 or bring in $15,000 revenue, they're eligible for this exemption. Um but on the sheet here, I have it I have the farmers that we have that are qualified for the exemption this past year. And the exemption amount they have is listed on here at the current amounts. So, if you look down on the the top where it says machinery, and the first one is 133 150. That's the machinery that we exempted for that farm. And if you go down the bottom, you'll see the um the amount that um was exempted for farm buildings.
005So, if they hit $100,000, which is the new for our limit right now, then the ordinance that's being talked about tonight, they would benefit from. Um, and right now there's three um uh farms that if the ordinance pass, would benefit from this ordinance. All the others, their buildings are already exempted um through the current legislation. Um, and as well as the farm machinery, uh if you look up on that top row, um there's there's uh just one farm that would benefit from it. Um, but it's vital that I, in my humble opinion, uh that uh farming is integral to the town of Rocky Hill. Um, and one of the issues, as we all know over the years, the farm exemption was set years ago. You know, when you could get a decent price for a
006farm tractor. Now, I don't even know what a farm tractor costs if you go and buy it. It's It's an outrageous number, but I believe the legislation in the past was to benefit the the farms um to ease their burden on being a farm. And the current proposed ordinance would help those farmers. Um The impact to the town um in looking at the remaining assessments would be probably around $35,000. You know, it's depending on um you know, I can't control if they build a new building or something like that. Um but um it's a it's a small measure on what the cost to the town to approve this ordinance um as proposed. And just let me add one more item um that this proposed ordinance um incorporates that we don't have now. It allows the
007town assessor to extend the filing date for the exemption. Thank you for reminding me. That That's important um cuz the current ordinance doesn't allow me to extend the filing deadline. Um with our personal property and and so many other filings, there is a um a filing extension. And I'm the bad guy enough. I don't want to be the bad guy in this. Um so um I would appreciate it if you have that language in there, so for some whatever reason that they file late um that we give them the extension that the the legislature gives to all personal property filers and >> [snorts] >> um to December 15th. You know, so But that's that's the request I had on that cuz life gets in the way sometimes and and if I don't have an out
008to say yes, I can do this, then I can't do it. So, I'd appreciate that. Currently, it's April 15th. Um, for this, it's October uh, November 1st. And we're just going to give him 45 days is what you're saying? Additional. I the law would the it would allow up to 45 days extension, yes. >> Okay. And that's the statutory deadline for personal property filings. What's the effective date of this? What grand list is this going to be effective for? 2025? Um, that is going to be that'd be up to this legislative body. I would assume 2026, but there's nothing that says you can't retroactive it. No, no, I'm well, I'm I'm not at I'm just it doesn't say it on here and yet the other policy did say October 1st, 2022. So, I I I
009assumed when I said 20, I probably meant 2026, but we can figure that out in the motion. I suppose. I would think that if you don't specify that it's a the previous one, yeah, it goes to the current the next one. >> Okay. Cuz it would be the next grand list after passage. But that's going to do for 2027, 2028. So, you gave us the numbers and can we ask any questions? Okay, so you gave us the numbers here and you know, obviously the 100, the 100, the 100, I can tell that they used the full exemption. Correct. Uh, it I would have it would have been good to know how much above the 100 they were if they didn't have the exemption. In other words, are they are any going to hit 250? Well,
010Okay. Well, 100 for the land for the buildings and with 250 for machinery. Correct. >> Currently. Correct. And we're going to propose to go to 500 and 500. Correct. Okay. Okay, so um I apologize for not being more prepared. Um I was watching my favorite baseball team today. They did win. And they did win and I did a suicide squeeze and I'm shocked that the Red Sox did a suicide squeeze. It's never happened in my lifetime, I think. But anyway, um the first one on your list, um the the farm building value is like $5,000 more than the 100,000. Um if you go on a cross left to right, um uh I just looked at it. It's about a 100 and $40,000 remainder. And then the next one, um it's several hundred thousand dollars remaining.
011And that one will benefit the most. Probably. Would they also benefit from the 250 on the machine? Yes. They're the They're the only ones that exceed the that amount. Yeah, I saw that. Yeah. So, let's [clears throat] go to basics. Uh What qualifies as a farm building? As long as it's being used in the agricultural process. How do you determine that? Well, the 15,000 >> Well, I would go out and look. Um Eye test? Is that what it is or What's that again? It's an eye test? Oh, sure. I mean It should be more than that. >> Well, what's the 50,000 >> Well, you go out there and you look and if it's, you know Well, they have to supply the schedule F too, right? >> First they have to, hold on. First they the
012application actually requires you to list what you you want exemption on. And then I go out and make sure you're actually using it in the actual agricultural process. So, you have to first tell me that yes, this is an agricultural use. And then I go out and say yes or no. Are there any supporting documentation they have to bring like from the state or like is there any other like >> So, the taxation Okay, so to qualify for the exemption, you have to file a schedule F with us. Okay. So, you should have a schedule F and if you're a farmer, you have one. You know, so that that'll tell me that you either receive $15,000 in income or spend $15,000 in expenses to be qualified for the exemption. Once you do that, then we
013have the application for the exemption which you have to list for the machinery, all the machinery that you use in your farm process. All right? And then through the personal property schedule, we value it and assess it. And then for the um farm buildings, um we already have an a value on them. We just got to ascertain whether they're being used in the farming process. Um and it's you know, um with the farmers that we have here in town, it there's there's no ambiguity whether they're using it in their process of it being a farm or not. It's really it it it's really straightforward. They're Yeah. And Mr. How about like if there's partial farm use and partial, I don't know, I set up a shop in there. Commercial, not farm related, but let's just
014say I start selling, I don't know, baseball bat. If it's not related to farming, then I would carve it out to not be a farm building. >> But, how often do you verify that? Um as often as as required. And what is that requirement? Well, we have to do an inspection at least once every 10 years. Um but um you know, people give me information all the time from a variety of different places about a lot of different things. Um and you know, um farmers are no different. You know, and you know, the people that want the playing field the most level in this town are definitely the farmers. Sure. >> Yeah. So, uh so, do you go back and review the eligibility you on a yearly basis? Exactly the process you described, how often
015would you go and review that? Once you sign off, you sign off today, let's just say. When would you go and do this process again? Um in the fall. Um because that's when they all apply. So, on a yearly basis? I can do that. You can >> not because a barn, once it's built and utilized, um I'm sorry, I'm going to use Mr. Collins as an example cuz he's here tonight. Sure. Um he has many, many farm buildings, and I can assure you he has not changed the use over since the 21 years I've been here on any of them. No, it's not about the individual, right? So, for example, like all right, here's the thing, Stewart, right? Uh if I'm not a farmer, I you don't know me personally in town, and you don't
016you don't vouch for like you're vouching for Mr. Collins, you have a process. Yep. >> I like to follow the process rather than the individual. That's what I'm getting like you can give me examples. There is one more person sitting right next to me right here. So, we can all do that, but that's not what this should be about. Nope. >> Right. So, that's all I'm saying like is if for the public who's watching let just say five people who are watching now and >> [clears throat] >> 15 who will watch later probably, but hopefully more. So, for them you have to lay it out. It cannot be like I like Mr. Collins, I like Mr. Hayes, my Mr. whoever friend we learn like you know. Um you know, we we I you know, I'm
017I'm not a farmer. Um you know, I know what farming activity is. Um I've had some really good teachers in my time. Um When something's not being used as as it's intended purpose for in this case the exemption, we'll know about it. Yeah, no and Okay. Okay. The whole reason I'm asking going this route is like this to lay it out properly. Like why do we do this? How do we do this? >> Councilor Prakash, I think we've outlined the process. Yeah, but we will >> I I think we've outlined the >> have periodic inspections of the farms to make sure this exemption is applied appropriately. All right, last question. Uh the 35,000 you mentioned is that incremental or is it like so right now what is the revenue lost versus what what will be
018the revenue lost? Uh if we increase the exemption limit. >> That would be what the revenue lost be. >> 30,000 I heard. >> Based on the the new exemption um and what the values of the structures that are out there. Okay, and then additional it will be it will be 30,000 with the new limits. Is that what you're saying? Approximately, yeah. So, what is it currently with the current limits? What is the exemption? Uh what's the >> lost? It's about Um if you I think I think it's around $35,000. >> Um yeah. And what will it be if we increase the exemption? I would say projected for 5 years. The worst case scenario, your assumption would be Excuse me, [clears throat] Stewart, but those that say 100, could we be an additional 400? That'd be
019three of those and the one that has the 250 for machinery, worst case would be an additional 250. That could impact you by 8,000. in tax revenue. Okay. If the farms were to suddenly expand their operations in large way and build a lot of structures, buy some machinery, they might be able to take advantage of this larger exemption limit. But I would look at that as well. That's a that's a good positive incentive for them. >> it can be a positive activity. On an economic level. So, but as far as the process, a lot of the questions you're asking, they're they're they're like laid out in the state statute around the subject and like they're pretty easy to access and we did lay out a >> Yeah, but that's why we are doing a public
020hearing. So, let's put it on the record. Right. Watch out. Sorry about that. Do we have any other questions from up here? I'd really like the public to have an opportunity to weigh in. Well, I had a G- Mona, can you just verify? I think it's a very small price to pay in to pass this. Okay, but I just I I I did some quick math. It looks like it's going to go above 15,000, not eight, just for the record, because I'm seeing about 490,000 additional right exemptions. And if you do that at a mill rate of 30, it's about 14.8. I'd say you've got about $1 million and you'd be looking at about an eight. Cuz you're going >> Yeah, I I okay, so I mean my math I simply took the numbers he
021gave us earlier. You know, 8,000 additional for back here I'm sorry, 5,000 for back hill. 40,000 for uh gardeners and 200,000 for Fairweather. And then I add the extra 250 which is a pie. This is what's already being exempted. I know. But you said we're we're I went above what they're not getting. Okay. Right. So, you're only given a 100 to Fairweather is for land. I'm sorry, buildings, but they're 300 for for real. So, there's a there's 200 there. I'm just using the numbers you gave me. Yeah. times 0.03024 we're at 30.24. So, you're you're ballpark, right? So, it's more like 14, but again, small that's only 14 additional. Correct. That's the big number. >> Right. Right. additional number. I just wanted to point out cuz we've talked about the date, but just to clarify.
022So, if you did the October 125 grand list, that would give them the benefit on this coming July 26, 27 bill. If we waiting to October 26, you'd be putting the benefit out until their July 27, January 28 bills. So, just keep in mind that whether the benefit would be this coming bill or you're going to postpone it an additional year. Well, this is just an amendment to the original one from 3 years ago, 4 years ago, 3 years ago. So, that those dates would that October 1st would stand. Correct, but I'm saying do you want you should determine which year you want to make it effective for the 10125 grand list, which would give it the benefit of this July 1 tax bill. You don't want to wait till the October 1 of 26
023grand list and push this out. And we could take that up on the agenda. And uh this this previous iteration that this would be amending uh that was previously voted on this at that time it was to take advantage of what the statute allowed for at the state level in terms of its maximum at the time, right? So, we have we have a history of deciding that we're going to make this an important thing in the town. When the state gives us an opportunity to exempt farmland from certain taxes, we tend to take that opportunity because it's not incidental that farmland is part of our identity here. It's a functional part of what we do. And uh I I I would actually just say that anything that tracks our options under state law, helps preserve
024this form of open space, is good for us. What's not it's the buildings and machinery. >> Yeah, but it helps us to preserve the open space because the farmers can continue to do business at a better economic level if they have exemptions like this. And heck, it might even incentivize further activity. >> [snorts] >> So, I'm fully going to be in support of this. Do we have any other questions up here? Or can we open it up to the public? Yep. All right. Uh do we have any comments from the public Regarding this specific item. Yeah. Anybody? Feel free. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. >> [laughter] >> Let's put on a put on a different hat. >> [clears throat] >> Francis Whalen, owner of Hayes Farm, 269 Hayes Road, Rocky Hill here. Um I'm speaking to
025you as farmer friend. I will be recusing myself at the vote at the council level. I would like to thank the council for entertaining this and seriously looking to help the farmers. Particularly thank the town manager who's always been supportive of agriculture in this town. He helped get the ordinance in 2022 passed and helped write it. And he's always been in favor. He works well with the farmers on a community farm. So, there's a lot of positive things that this town does for our farmers. This ordinance is not going to affect my town my family farm personally cuz we're under the current ordinance for the exemptions, but in the future if there's future growth for farmers, there are some farmers in town that would benefit from this immediately. So, I'd encourage you to consider it.
026Please uh support it if you can, if you think it's worthwhile for our town. And thank you for your time. Thank you. Any other? Excellent. Uh Bill Billy Collins, Fairweather Growers, 1146 Cromwell Avenue. >> [clears throat] >> I just want to say I'm actually a fourth generation farmer here in Rocky Hill. So, our family's been in here for for four generations. I have a fifth generation and actually a sixth generation and it works with this here. So, I'm actually asking for for your help of you guys of of changing the exemptions up to the 500,000 for both the for buildings and equipment. Um we have a lot of equipment that we we actually go out we're actually purchasing a new tractor right now. It's well over $250,000 for one piece of machinery. Our bean harvester
027we we bought that right brand brand new right now today would be over $400,000 for that one piece of machinery. Um I know you're going to potentially lose a little bit of tax revenue out of all this here. Um I hope being a right to farm town and and support of agriculture in this town uh uh we could see the benefit of what all of us farms bring to this town as well, too. Such as our farm and Hayes's and uh everybody else in town. Um And so, it would just with the struggles of agriculture right now, our fertilizer this past year went up over 45% in 1 year. Uh we're getting the same prices that we were in 1980 for the same product on a wholesale level selling to Big Y and Whole Foods
028and Price Choppers and all these stores on a wholesale level. So any tax breaks, any breaks we can get kind of it's going to be beneficial for the next generation to stay in town here or even future farmers to even be part of all this here. So I guess we're just asking for all the help we can get out of this here and even though it might be implement a little bit less tax revenue for the town. I just hope you guys can oversee that a little bit. That's about all I have to say. But thank you. Thank you for everybody listening to this. Thank you. Do we have written comments? Okay. Yeah, we have one. It's from Joan Bakkeal Brick of Bakkeal Farm. Good morning. With the additional burden placed on farmers this year
029given the rise in fuel prices, any help given to the farmers will perhaps help sustain the future of the next generation of farmers here in Rocky Hill. Please vote yes on the property tax exemptions and also the farm building exemption for farmers. Thank you. That was the only one? That's the only one. All right. Any other comments from us? I think motion to close the public hearing. Second. Second. All in favor? I. I. All right. Thank you everyone.