Torrington City Council Expands Local Farmer Tax Exemption

4/6/26

The City Council and Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) meeting opened at 6:42 p.m., following a public hearing that started at 6:30 p.m.

Present: Mayor Molly Spino; City Councilmen David Oliver, Paul Cavagnero, Anne Ruwet, Armand Maniccia, Rachel Hannon-Harrel and Chris Beyus.

The Council approved an amendment to a current tax exemption that could help lower tax bills yearly for farmers and the owners of farm property.

The amendment modifies Torrington’s Code of Ordinances, Chapter 187: Taxation, which deals with an exemption for buildings used exclusively in farming. The measure was discussed in a public hearing prior to the meeting, and would increase the exemption from $50,000 to $500,000. The amount of the exemption that the assessor will apply to any building under this amendment should be the amount of the current assessed value of such building, but not more than $500,000.00.

Lawmakers approved the measure with Ruwet and Maniccia abstaining. Both councilors own farmland and recused themselves due to potential conflict of interest.

To qualify for the exemption farmers must apply with the city assessor on or before the first day of November, annually. Farmers will also be required to earn at least $15,000 in gross sales from their farm that year, or have incurred losses of at least $15,000 in expenses related to their farm that year.

The exemption is applied to the property taxes for certain buildings used for farming purposes, but cannot be the farmers’ actual residence, according to a copy of the bill reviewed by The Goshen News.

Stacie Maldonado, the city’s assessor, said the measure would only affect five more buildings in Torrington. The total assessed value of these buildings is approximately $504,000 combined.

“Currently, each building receives a $50,000 exemption, totaling $250,000,” Maldonado said. “The proposed increase would provide an additional $254,000 in exemptions.”

The city stands to lose out on around $9,700 in annual tax revenue, Maldonado added.

“For the municipality, it is a small number,” Maldonado noted. “But for the farmers that are there, it's very impactful for them.”

Maldonado and residents who spoke in favor of the measure said the amendment could be a much-needed financial shot in the arm to local farmers.

Stephen Ivain, a former councilor and mayoral candidate, said during the public hearing that the amendment is especially critical as energy-intensive farming is becoming even more financially unsustainable in the wake of the conflict between the United States and Iran.

“I want to make sure we shore up our farmers,” Ivain said. “It's a critical point when energy intensive farming is hurting because of the war efforts and the fuel prices.”

Dairy farmers in particular, Ivain said, are struggling. They face high energy prices at a time of lower milk prices, he added. “It's hit or miss every year for these guys, so this measure will go a long way to helping them get through this.”

Glenn Royals, a town resident who also supported the measure and spoke during the public comment period, said passing the amendment could help revitalize farming as a financially viable career.

“Anything to help the farmers and along these lines I think would be a big positive,” Roya