If you wish to be added to our email
list, please write to fctopresident@aol.com.
Thank you.
Federal Judge Upholds New York Gun Curbs - WSJ.com
January 1, 2014
From: The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer
Organizations
Contact: Susan Kniep, President
Website: http://ctact.org/
Email: fctopresident@aol.com
Telephone: 860-841-8032
The
Federation wishes you Good Health, Happiness and Success in Whatever Challenges
you Embrace in the New Year 2014!
During 2014, The Federation will continue to
work for Fiscal Austerity in Government, Strong Ethics Laws, Reforms to State
Mandates such as Binding Arbitration, and Increased Transparency both at the
State level and within the 169 Connecticut municipalities in an effort to
Protect State and Local Taxpayers from Unnecessary Taxation and Government
Mismanagement or Corruption.
In the words of Thomas Jefferson,
ETERNAL VIGILANCE IS THE PRICE OF LIBERTY
**********************************
The
Federation Recognizes Leaders in Government Transparency As We Encourage All
Taxpayers to Promote Transparency in Their Own Municipality
That Transparency should include, opening Union Contract negotiations
to the Public as well as posting on Town websites Vendor Payments, and the
Wages, Benefits, and Pensions provided to Town and Board of Education Employees
as approximately 80% to 90% of local property taxes throughout the 169 Towns in
Connecticut pay for personnel related expenses.
******************
Transparency in Connecticut began with the Yankee Institute.
It was then followed by the State of Connecticut
due to the efforts of former Democrat State Representative Demetrios
S. Giannaros of Farmington
whose proposal ultimately resulted in the Connecticut Transparency Website. Here information on
State employee wages, benefits, pensions, vendor payments, and more can be
found.
Connecticut is comprised of 169
towns.
East Hartford Democrat Mayor Marcia LeClerc
became a leader in municipal transparency when, at her direction, the Town of East Hartford added to
its website the following:
Current Benefit-Town and BOE retirees/widows
Town Payments, Employee Wage, and Insurance Information
TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS/
VALUATION
More recently, the article captioned New Brookfield finance chairman promises transparency -
offBeat notes that: The newly seated
Board of Finance elected officers on Wednesday night, and Chairman Phil Kurtz
issued this statement as his leadership pledge. “I am pleased to accept the position as
Chairman of the BOF, and am truly humbled by your support. “As I continue
my term in office, homeowners and businesses that financially support
Brookfield through their property taxes can be assured that I will bring to the
BOF, the transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility
they expect and deserve.” The article continues at http://blog.ctnews.com/offbeat/2013/12/12/new-brookfield-finance-chairman-promises-transparency/
******************
******************
Every elected public official of the 169 Towns throughout Connecticut has a responsibility to its municipal
taxpayers to provide, at minimum, information on their town’s website
similar to that provided by the State and the Town of East Hartford.
Further, negotiating union contracts behind close doors must
end. Taxpayers have every right to be involved in these
negotiations as the bill for these union contracts are passed on to us through
the myriad of state taxes we are burdened with and the property tax, which if
not paid, could result in the loss of a home or business through a tax lien
sale.
In conclusion, Connecticut
State Legislators should
also consider enacting legislation requiring municipalities to post on their
town’s website the information as previously noted.
Join the
Federation in Promoting Government Transparency in the 169 Towns Throughout Connecticut and Ending
Secret Contract Negotiations!
Contact
us if we can assist in furthering these efforts in your Town
and keep us
informed of your success or challenges in this regard.
*****************
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State of our State
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1 Bil Dlr Deficit Awaits Next
Governor Also CT Worst Performing Economy and More News on the State of our
State
The Federation of - CT Taxpayer
Org - Dec 2013
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PENSION CRISIS IN CHICAGO
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19.5 BILLION
DOLLARS SHORT, IS IT TIME TO END COLLECTIVE BARGAINING....
The Federation of - Ct Taxpayer
Org - Dec 2013
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