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Shelton approves vendor program to identify unregistered cars for tax collection
Summary
The board approved an agreement with Fisher Investigations/EBA Capital Tax Recovery to photograph and verify vehicle registrations, add matches to the grand list and bill owners; the vendor retains 40% of collections and a $50 per-vehicle fee as described at the meeting.
Shelton — The Board of Aldermen unanimously approved an agreement on July 24 to hire a vendor to assist the city's assessor with motor vehicle registration compliance.
A staff presenter described the program as a multi-step enforcement and recovery effort already used elsewhere in Connecticut. "They go out every evening, every afternoon, and…photograph cars, plates," the presenter said, explaining the vendor then verifies locations over multiple passes, processes paperwork and forwards findings to the assessor. After about three to four months of re‑inspection, matching vehicles are added to the grand list and billed. The vendor is paid 40% of tax collected and a $50 fee per vehicle initially, the presenter said.
Why it matters: The program aims to increase municipal tax collection on vehicles that are registered out of town or not registered at all, generating revenue without an upfront cost to the city; subsequent years' collections go entirely to the city after initial vendor payments.
Board members thanked staff for prior research, noting efforts dating back to 2023 and cooperation with neighboring municipalities such as Danbury. The board voted to authorize the agreement and to allow the mayor to sign documents to effectuate it.
What comes next: Staff will monitor vendor results and integration with the grand list; the city will account for vendor fees and subsequent net revenues per the agreement.
