SOUTHINGTON, CT — Local officials are mulling a new ordinance that would abate the taxes of surviving spouses of fallen public servants living in Southington.
The Southington Town Council Monday voted 9-0 to schedule a public hearing and, possible, vote on the “Aaron Pelletier Public Servant Surviving Spouse Line of Duty Tax Abatement Ordinance.”
It will take place Monday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. at the council meeting, with action on the abatement likely that night. The hearing will be in the John Weichsel Municipal Center,196 N. Main St., Southington.
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According to the draft ordinance, the new rules would apply to the spouses of police officers, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel from Southington who die in the line of duty.
The abatement would be on all Southington real and personal property taxes, up to $10,000 per year.
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“The purpose of this ordinance is to recognize and support the surviving spouses of public servant residents of the Town of Southington who have tragically lost their lives while performing duties as, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical service providers,” reads the draft ordinance.
Pelletier, 34, a Connecticut State Trooper, died May 30 after a motorist struck him while he was conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 84 in Southington, where he was born, raised, and resided.
He lost his life conducting a seat belt enforcement check, part of an ongoing safety initiative. The driver of the pickup truck that hit him fled the scene and was, later, caught.
Pelletier left behind a wife, Dominique Pelletier, and two young sons, Troy and Zach, along with several friends and family members.
The ordinance lays out the process for the spouses to receive the tax breaks, which would expire after 15 years following the death.
Such abatements would also require yearly monitoring by the town to determine eligibility, also requiring the beneficiaries to file an annual document in the tax assessor’s office.
The surviving spouse must live in Southington and own personal property/real estate in Southington.
Council members didn’t discuss the merits of the abatement program, but they fine-tuned the language of the final ordinance draft to be decided later this month.
For the full draft ordinance, click on this link.
From June 5: ‘Fallen Trooper Laid To Rest Amid Outpouring Of Emotion’
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