From:

Susan Kniep,  President
The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations, Inc.
Website:  ctact.org
email:  fctopresident@ctact.org

860-524-6501
October 17, 2004

 

WELCOME TO THE 37th EDITION OF 

 

TAX TALK

Your update on what others are thinking, doing, and planning 
Send your comments or questions to me, and
I will include in next week's publication.  

Please note that TAX TALK is now on our Website

 

REMINDER!!! 

FCTO MEETING

NOTE CHANGE OF DATE 

 FROM NOVEMBER 6, 2004

 

TO NOVEMBER 13, 2004

Reserve Your Ticket Today

 

Fred Standt, FStndt@aol.coom

Brookfield Taxpayers Association

Subject:  Controlling Government Costs

September 27, 2004

 

Fred’s response to John Durand,  Tolland Taxpayers Association, porchejd@yahoo.com

 

Dear John, In response to your recent Email re: 9/30 Tolland Town Council public forum intended to discern a method of providing the current level of services at lower than current costs:  I just concluded eight years of service on the Brookfield Board of Finance.In every one of those years the budget increased and the government grew larger.   Every year the Board of Finance was offered budgets by department heads that  would require tax increases. The department heads always claimed that they could not provide services if we cut their budget request. We always cut their requests and they always provided the services within their reduced budgets, but overall spending still increased.   You have asked for ideas that cut cost or increase efficiency. Forgive me for not being "positive" but there is no chance that if you can achieve cost cutting or increased efficiency, it  will reduce your town budget OR KEEP IT FROM INCREASING.  It is the nature of government to continually grow; increasing in cost, size and power.  all of which are supported by the local taxpayer. The concept of "limited government" does not apply to today's local government for good reasons, such as unfounded state and federal mandates and regulations and other out of town influences like law suits  and judicial decisions.  The biggest driving force in increasing local government cost and size is the willingness of local taxpayers to pay and the governments unlimited power to tax.. Those taxpayers not so willing, or those who really can't afford increased taxes are driven to pay by the fear of, at least paying more for failure to pay or at worst, the loss of their homes. There are, however, ways of limiting local governments ability to tax called TELLs, (Tax & Expenditure Limitation Laws). There are several ways to approach these laws including action in the legislature, and local organization.  It seems evident you have a taxpayers association in Tolland. That is a great beginning.  While I have been of little service in response to your request for saving and cost reducing ideas, perhaps I can be of service in the future.  Fred Standt,  5 South Mt. Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804  

 

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Bob Green, green_robert@hotmail.com

Salem RTC Chairman

RE:  City Budget Defeated For Second Straight Year

Susan, Our message is getting out.  Read the attached article from the 9/24 edition of The Day.

By STEPHEN CHUPASKA
Published on 9/24/2004 New London -- Gabe Kleiman had not yet made up his mind when he drove into the parking lot at Nathan Hale School to vote in last Tuesday's referendum on the 2004-2005 city budget.  He walked over to hear the arguments of both supporters of the $73.1 million spending plan as well as members of the taxpayers' lobby Lower Our Taxes, who petitioned the city government to force the plebiscite. Kleiman read the pamphlets provided and carefully considered what the different factions had to say.  "It's an issue that cuts right down the middle," he said, after casting his vote. "As a resident of New London, it's hard to decide."  While Kleiman kept his decision confidential, in the end New Londoners resoundingly shot down the budget by more than 600 votes, with opponents winning in six of the city's seven wards.  The final tally saw 1,678 votes against the budget, and 1,021 in favor of it. Only 28 percent of New London voters participated.
"This is setting the direction we're going to go," LOT co-chair William Cornish said from the City Hall lobby, where several local Republicans were waiting for results. "It all comes back to the budget." John Russell, a LOT member and GOP candidate for the 39th state House seat, called the victory an "overwhelming mandate," despite a low voter turnout.
"(Taxpayers) want spending brought under control, not excuses," he said. 
Members of Yes on the Budget, a group formed to advocate for the spending plan's approval, gathered at 39th state House candidate Ernest Hewett's campaign headquarters to await results, along with Mayor Gerard Gaynor and city Councilors Margaret Curtin and Jason Catala.  Elaine Maynard-Adams, the group's main organizer, said it was "tough to ask their neighbors" to accept tax increases.  Yet, she said further cuts could "choke off the economic vitality of the city."  Board of Education member Kevin Cavanaugh noted the group that worked to pass the budget "did an outstanding job."  "We feel good about that," he said. "That group of people are there for the long run."  The largest voter turnout and margin of victory was in the city's affluent sixth ward, where more than 60 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the referendum.   While supporters of the budget expected to lose in the sixth, it was the second ward, home to many lower class families, which proved to be the bellwether last Tuesday.  "That was supposed to be our district," Curtin said, as results from the second arrived via cell phone at Hewett's headquarters.   The lone ward that voted to approve the budget, the third, did so by a scant 30 votes.   Cornish was confident the city council could make cuts to the budget without the loss of personnel on the city payroll, including police and fire officers as well as teachers.   He also cited some line items he would like to see cut from the budget, namely a payment to Ocean Beach. Cornish also suggested the City Council use funds from the sale of the parking structure on Gov. Winthrop Boulevard and a house on Bank Street to retain city jobs.   In the past, members of LOT have demurred when asked to name particular line items in the budget they would take out, repeatedly saying it is not their role to make such decisions.  Mark Diebolt, the GOP candidate for the 20th state Senate seat, speaking with budget opponents at the sixth district polling station, said LOT should be "well advised" to give specifics as to what they would like to see cut.   "No, that's their job," came the rejoinder from a LOT member.
The council will once again look to make subtractions from the budget at its Sept. 27 meeting.   Speaking last Tuesday, Curtin said she hasn't personally thought about what should be cut.   "The people have spoken," she said.  "We now need to decide: do we cut services or do we cut employees?"   "We're going to have to look at areas that have not been hit," said Catala, who joined with fellow Republican Rob Pero in voting against the budget in June.   One area likely to see cuts will be the education budget, which some members of the council have already targeted.   Superintendent Christopher Clouet said he was "naturally very concerned" about the budget's defeat and he would soon be meeting with the Board of Education to discuss any action taken by the City Council.   "We'll be doing it now with less," he said.

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Ann Mikulak

Citizens Property Owners Association (CPOA)

Subject:  New Britain Herald Recognizes Tax Group’s Celebration of 75 Years

October 8, 2004

 

CPOA Observes 75 Years- Written by the New Britain Herald

 

NEW BRITAIN -- Members of the Citizens Property Owners Association (CPOA) and their friends celebrated the 75th anniversary of its incorporation recently with a luncheon at Zabbara’s Restaurant at Stanley Golf Course.

The local group, the state’s oldest, continuously active taxpayer organization, was organized in 1924 and incorporated five years later by the city’s property and business owners to foster and promote, establish and ordain an interest in the civic betterment of the government of NewBritain.

 

Among those extending greetings were Mayor Timothy Stewart and Susan Kniep, president of the Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations and former mayor of East Hartford. Kniep presented Ann Mikulak, CPOA president, with a proclamation from the federation. It stated in part, "The CPOA has continued steadfastly to represent the interests of taxpayer organizations, to promote fiscal austerity in government with the intent of protecting taxpayers." While efforts have been directed toward cost-effective government, the group has also spearheaded attempts to give New Britain’s residents the rights that other towns enjoy, such as the powers of initiative and referendum, according to Helene Groman, secretary. It is an independent grassroots organization, which relies on its membership for monetary support. New members are welcome. Information may be obtained by writing to C.P.O.A., P.O. Box 2312, New Britain, CT 06050.

 

 

Lights, Camera, Action ….. On October 18 I will be participating in a forum in East Hampton, on October 19 I will be joining members of the Coventry Taxpayers Association, and on October 29 I will be again appearing on a cable call in talk show from Waterbury.       

 

As FCTO continues to bring its message to communities throughout the State, I look forward to meeting with other taxpayer groups and continued appearances on local cable shows.  If you would like to schedule a show, please contact me at 860-524-6501.  Susan Kniep, President, FCTO 

 

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