Tax Bill Deadline Approaches In Groton

Three people were waiting in line by 8:30 a.m. Monday, when Groton Town Tax Collector Cynthia Small got to work.

"We've got payments coming in through lockbox, banks, online," she said. "It's very hard to (know the total) right now."

Groton sent out 36,474 tax bills for real estate, personal property and motor vehicles this month, and the line at the tax office started forming almost immediately.

Bills for personal property are due Aug. 1; bills for real estate and motor vehicles went out a few days late, so they are due Aug. 5; bills for sewer use are due in September.

Eldon Ivy, who has lived here 40 years, said he's incensed about his taxes this year because his property value skyrocketed, from $98,000 to almost $200,000.

"It just makes me very angry," he said. "I don't see that that's a fair valuation, in one year. How can it be doubled in one year?" Ivy, who is retired from the U.S. Navy and Electric Boat, said he did not appeal, however.

"I was afraid I'd say something I shouldn't," he said.

Ray Poirier, of Mystic, said he considers paying taxes a civic responsibility, but he gets angry when he feels his money is wasted.

"I work hard for that money, and I hate to see them throw it away," he said. ". . .I'm talking about the town and the state and the federal government."

He said the town government decides what it needs, then keeps pushing the issue, whether its rebuilding Thames Street or the schools.

"They approach things repeatedly until they get their way," he said.

The tax collector's office has until Aug. 10 to turn over the money collected to the town treasurer, fire districts and subdivisions.

Small said it's not necessary to pay the bills in person, although some choose to do so. Groton taxes may be paid online through the town website, at the Groton branches of Chelsea Groton Bank, Webster Bank and Savings Institute or may be placed in the green mail box outside town hall, or in the brown locked box on the counter at the assessor's department.

Small said she's had no problematic encounters with taxpayers so far. She's been called to the counter once, she said, for a man who argued that his bill arrived late, she said.