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Simsbury enacts exemption for horses and ponies from property taxes after public hearing
Summary
After public hearings and public comment, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-1 to adopt a municipal ordinance exempting horses and ponies from property taxes, effective with the 2025 grand list. Town Manager Marc Nelson said the change foregoes about $20,000 and reflects assessor capacity concerns.
The Simsbury Board of Selectmen voted Feb. 9 to enact a municipal option exempting horses and ponies from property taxes, adopting Town Code Chapter 141 Article IX effective with the 2025 grand list, 21 days after publication.
The vote followed two public hearings and a string of public comments both opposing and supporting relief. Town Manager Marc Nelson told the Board the assessor lacks the experience and resources to value living animals equitably and that the town could forego roughly $20,000 in limited revenue. "There is no way we can administer the assessment of horses equitably and fairly across the board," Nelson said.
Residents at the hearing offered contrasting views. Joan Coe urged the Board to reject an exemption, saying institutions such as Ethel Walker already avoid some property taxes and that the town should demand an inventory and assess horses according to state law: "They should give the Town an inventory of all the horses there." In contrast, Linda Kriwitsky, speaking for an equestrian proprietor at Folly Farm, warned that the assessor's current valuation method was flawed, saying the office was using "Google AI to estimate the value of horses," producing extreme and unreliable values.
Other speakers described business impacts from assessment efforts. Brittany Watras, who works at Folly Farm, said last-minute moves around reporting deadlines cost a client about $10,000 a month and cut her business income: "The entire taxation process has been a tremendous burden on my time, energy, and effort." Rescue owners said taxation could make keeping quarantined horses unaffordable.
Selectmen debated administrative fairness and statutory constraints before Mr. Antonio moved — and later amended — the ordinance adopting the exemption; Ms. Yeisley seconded. The motion passed with Mr. Beal, Mr. Looney, Mr. Antonio, Ms. Yeisley and Mr. Paine voting in favor and First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis opposed.
Board documents and discussion indicated the town would publish a summary of the amended ordinance as required; the Town Manager confirmed the effective grand-list year would be corrected to 2025. Nelson characterized the choice as opting out of a difficult-to-administer assessment rather than pursuing continued enforcement that could unevenly affect taxpayers.
The Board did not direct additional study or reversal at the meeting; the ordinance takes effect after publication as specified. Citizens who raised concerns sought clearer assessor methods and transparency about valuation going forward.
