Torrington — Farmer Butch Klug told the City Council Monday that reassessments have sharply raised his farm’s tax burden and asked the city to use a newly enacted state option to increase farm-building exemptions.

Klug, who identified himself in public comment as an operator of a dairy farm in Torrington, said his heifer barn — originally built about 12 years ago and assessed at roughly $70,000 during earlier appeals — is now listed at about $170,000. He told the council the barn’s construction cost was about $110,000 and that the land is in farm-preservation use. Klug said farm buildings in Torrington are currently exempt up to $50,000 and that the recent reassessment was jeopardizing the farm’s viability.

“ We’re the only operating dairy farm left,” Klug said in public comment. “We just can’t pay the taxes.”

City response and next steps: The mayor and other council members told Klug that the Connecticut legislature enacted a public act in June that allows municipalities to increase local farm-building exemptions but that a local ordinance change is required to use the new authority. The council agreed to refer Klug’s request to the ordinance committee for formal review and to schedule the item for the ordinance committee meeting on Aug. 18 so the farmer and other stakeholders can present details.

What was clarified at the meeting: Council officials explained that the local exemption referenced in the meeting applies only if the property owner demonstrates farm income for tax purposes (Schedule F or equivalent). The mayor noted the recently passed state law took effect too late in the current reassessment cycle to retroactively help Klug’s current tax bill but said the council can pursue an ordinance change going forward.

Context: Klug said milk prices and rising costs make it difficult for remaining farms to operate. Council members flagged the larger policy question of preserving agricultural land and said they will review whether increasing the municipal exemption is feasible and whether additional support for working farms is warranted.

Ending: The council directed the ordinance committee to review the statute and prepare ordinance language; Klug said he would appear at the committee meeting to present documentation and answer questions.