Expanding Windsor manufacturer says tax exemption supports continued growth

Windsor-based New England Expert Technologies has added 15 jobs and invested about $10 million in new equipment over the past year as it expands to meet growing demand, particularly from the defense industry. For a manufacturer investing at that pace, every dollar counts, said Richard Havighorst, chief operating officer of the company, which also goes by NE-XT. That is part of the company’s case Tuesday night as it asks the Windsor Town Council to waive a missed filing deadline for a manufacturing equipment tax exemption that would save NE-XT an estimated $141,927. “Manufacturing is equipment intensive, so to support jobs, we have to bring in new equipment,” Havighorst said. “It’s a significant impact to us as a growing company.” NE-XT currently employs about 60 people, and Havighorst said he anticipates similar levels of investment and employment growth going forward, particularly as demand increases in the defense industry. Havighorst said the cost of equipment needed to support manufacturing jobs is precisely why the state created an exemption for certain equipment from local personal property taxes. NE-XT has used the exemption in the past but missed last year’s filing deadline. The Town Council on Tuesday will consider the company’s request to waive that deadline, which would allow NE-XT to receive the exemption. The council is also considering a similar request from Windsor-based manufacturer Ortiz Tool LLC. Approval would save Ortiz Tool about $49,705 in local taxes. Under state law, municipal legislative bodies have had the authority to waive the filing deadline since 2020. Windsor has granted five such requests to date. These are the first waiver requests from NE-XT and Ortiz Tool, according to town records. Town staff are recommending approval of both.