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SOUTHINGTON, CT — As expected, the Southington Town Council this week easily approved a new tax abatement for families of local responders who die in the line of duty.
The unanimous 9-0 vote Monday, Sept. 23, approved the “Aaron Pelletier Public Servant Surviving Spouse Line of Duty Tax Abatement Ordinance,” named for the State Police Trooper and Southington resident/native killed on the job May 30.
While the name of the ordinance is long, the premise of it is simple: families grieving the loss of loved ones killed while serving their community needn’t worry about their tax bills later on.
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According to the ordinance, it applies 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 Southington 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 ordinance.
Pelletier, 34, died 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.
In addition, the council approved what is called the “Line of Duty Determination Ordinance,” which established a committee in town that would meet to determine if a spouse qualifies for the tax abatement.
Southington Town Council Vice Chairman Jim Morelli headed up the subcommittee that helped craft the ordinance.
He said the group, initially, wanted to include teachers and other municipal employees, but state statutes do not allow towns to offer such abatements beyond emergency responders.
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Morelli said he hopes the town can lobby its representatives in Hartford to get a law passed allowing for expansion of the abatement offerings.
As for this ordinance, Morelli said it was born, merely, as a means to help Pelletier’s family, but other family members for other responders could benefit should tragedy strike.
“I just want to say that that day was a tragic day and discussions that we had were really about what we could do for the surviving spouse,” he said.
Ultimately, Morelli said, it was beneficial for the town to carefully craft revisions to the tax abatement ordinance rather than, simply, voting on something right away.
“We determined right away that mortgages and tax bills are the two higgest things that someone has to worry about,” Morelli said.
His colleagues easily approved the measure.
“I think this is an excellent opportunity to do what we can at the local level,” Councilperson Valerie A. DePauolo said.
For the full text of the “Aaron Pelletier Public Servant Surviving Spouse Line of Duty Tax Abatement Ordinance,” click on this link.
From Sept. 11: ‘Tax Breaks For Spouses Of Fallen Responders Mulled In Southington’
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