THOMASTON — A request by retail giant Walmart for a nearly $9 million reduction in its taxable property value was denied Wednesday by the Thomaston Board of Assessors, but the retailer could reapply if it submits information to justify its request.
Walmart had requested that the valuation on its property and building at 55 Thomaston Commons Way be reduced from $15,889,373 to $7 million. This would have resulted in the company receiving a tax refund of $172,453 for 2017-2018.
The amount would vary in subsequent years based on the town’s new rates.
Walmart is the town’s second-highest property taxpayer. The current tax for the retailer is $388,507. Dragon Products is the top taxpayer at $1,646,080. Lowe’s is the third-highest taxpayer in Thomaston.
The assessors rejected the Walmart abatement request, saying the application was incomplete.
Thomaston Assessors’ Agent David Martucci said the Thomaston location is one of at least eight known appeals to date by the retail giant in Maine, the others being Sanford, Windham, Biddeford, Waterville, Ellsworth, Bangor and Houlton.
The valuations of just four of Walmart’s stores are not under appeal at this time – Auburn, Augusta, Scarborough and Falmouth – Martucci said, “probably because their deadlines for abatement requests have already passed.”
Thomaston’s deadline is April 6.
“Since it was built in 2013, Walmart’s original assessment was reduced by 5 percent on the building after the first full year,” Martucci said, adding that that is standard procedure.
The store opened in October 2013, relocating from Rockland.
Since the Thomaston store opened, Rockland has seen a dramatic drop in theft complaints, while Thomaston has seen an increase in theft complaints and other calls, such as medical calls and fender benders originating on the Walmart property.
The reason for the denial, according to Martucci, was that Walmart did not supply any information or supporting documentation regarding its value estimate, which is a minimum requirement.
Martucci said the board will agree to extend the deadline by 30 days if the firm certifies in writing on or before April 6 that it will supply all of the requested information, including how the company came up with its stated value, sales and expense figures for the Thomaston store, and any sales projections for the that store.
Beth A. Birmingham can be contacted at 594-4401, ext. 125, or at:
bbirmingham@villagesoup.com
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