New Haven tax hearing forgives cemetery charges, credits a taxpayer and tables a vehicle-tax appeal

At a public tax hearing in New Haven, officials voted to forgive interest and related charges for Westfield Cemetery, approved an account credit for a taxpayer whose mailed payments were not processed, wrote off an uncollectible account, and tabled a motor-vehicle tax appeal pending documentary proof.

Holly Lincoln, president of the Westfield Cemetery board, told the panel she had failed to file the cemetery’s tax-exempt application after an office move and that her organization received a bill addressed to a neighboring property. "I should have contacted the city — I’m here pleading for forgiveness," Lincoln said, according to the record. She said she had since filed the exemption paperwork and asked the board to relieve the assessed charges, which she described as large on the current system balance.

Tax office staff told members the bill in the city's tax computer combined principal, fees and accrued interest. Timra Kirby, who gave the tax office response, said the office had not received the mailed payments and explained the agency’s limited authority: "By state statute, we have no authority to waive that interest," she said, adding that if a mailed payment arrives later the office will forward interest as a credit to a subsequent bill.

On the cemetery item members agreed that the bill had been sent to the wrong address and that cemeteries are not taxable when timely exemption paperwork is on file. The board moved to forgive interest and related charges and to zero out the assessed amounts pending the filed exemption, and members voted in favor.

On a separate account, taxpayer Richard Andrew Buckholtz said his credit union (Connex) had mailed multiple checks for property and vehicle taxes but only some were processed by the tax office; Buckholtz said he subsequently paid the outstanding amounts and requested relief for interest and late charges. After discussion that Buckholtz’s accounts were now current and that the tax office had indicated a credit would be applied rather than a cash refund, the board moved to credit/abate charges consistent with practice and the motion passed.

The board also addressed an account flagged as uncollectible after staff review and moved to remove that amount from active collection.

Nell Santos appealed motor-vehicle taxes for a car she said was totaled in February 2022 and told the board she did not submit plate-cancellation paperwork on time. Members recommended she return with documentation (insurance payout, tow records or police report) and voted to pass the matter over to the next scheduled hearing so the case can be decided on evidence. Staff noted the next meeting is scheduled on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

The hearing closed after the remaining agenda items were handled. The board directed staff to notify affected taxpayers of the actions and next steps; items that were forgiven or credited require the submission or confirmation of paperwork where noted.