Thanks to high assessments, local businesses must consider moving to suburbs

Gino Mirdita at his pizzeria. (Betsy Yagla photos)

Most of the outrage heard this year about higher-than-usual assessments on businesses have come from small businesses, like attorneys, artists and coffee shop owners. For many of them, filing a lawsuit would cost more than paying the disputed tax.

Instead of filing a lawsuit, at least one business owner is considering moving to the suburbs, where the taxes are lower and he thinks he’ll be treated fairly. Gino Mirdita owns New Haven Pizza Department, on Forbes Avenue, which he bought in mid-2008.

This year, Mirdita learned the previous owners hadn’t been billed or paid personal property taxes. (It’s the business owner’s responsibility to declare their personal property’s worth to the city.) Mirdita was told the city would close his business if he didn’t pay up.

Assessor Bill O’Brien says it’s a business buyer’s responsibility to check on things like outstanding tax bills.

Without sending an assessor to check the value of his assets — a few tables and chairs, two ovens, coolers and a fridge — the city decided it was worth $15,000 for 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Mirdita — who maintains he doesn’t owe the taxes, because he didn’t own the business then — paid $2,770.76 in back taxes and fines. He had to borrow money to do so.

This year Mirdita’s assessment is double the previous one: $32,383. That adds up to a bill of $1,421. At most, Mirdita says, his equipment is worth $10,000.

Mirdita says he asked that an assessor come to look at his business, but no one showed up.

“It’s very customary to do an inspection [on a new business],” O’Brien says. “We prefer to do that so we can see the assets involved. If someone requests that, it could be done.”

Mirdita filed an appeal of his personal property taxes. At the hearing, he says, Board of Assessment Appeals chairman Michael Newton said he’d grant the appeal.

But a week later he got a letter: Appeal denied.

“They are trying to run me out of business,” Mirdita says.

Mirdita had planned to save money to fix up his business by replacing a broken cooler and an oven with new ones. He thought about replacing the awning and signs. He wanted to add air conditioning because the intense summer heat drives away customers.

Instead he may move a mile down the road to East Haven where he’s looked at a few restaurant-ready retail spots.

That’s cheaper than filing a lawsuit.

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tax payer  - hmm   |2010-07-01 18:33:42 I believe it is time for a no confidence in the mayor! Reply 0   0

Jon Doe  - Taxes out of control   |2010-07-01 19:17:45 Mayor Johnny keep running the middle class out of town and soon all he will have left is a bunch of New Haven I.D card holders. Reply 1   0

NewHavener  - soon they'll only be welfare and illegals   |2010-07-02 09:03:39 Then how's he going to pay for things? Destefano can't raise taxes on welfare recipients and illegals. Reply 0   0

Crooksandliars   |2010-07-03 09:43:57 The mayor and his out of town cronies and his young Yalie careeristas, don't need or want small businesses or middle class people in the city. They only want their base - people on welfare in government owned housing, preachers, and the handful of guilt ridden East Rock millionaires who can afford to pay the taxes. So, if you need a social worker, section8, etc. or you are a top administrator for an agency that provides those services or run a ghetto church - Welcome to New Haven. The rest of you can take a hike. If you still want to stick around (suckers) Johnny and his pals will gladly take your money. Reply 0   0

Jack  - WTF   |2010-07-03 14:50:03 City Hall is out of control. This is just too many stories of New Haven pillaging the few good business the city has. I worry that Joe Doe and NewHavener are right. Reply 0   0

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