Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations

The taxpayers of Connecticut are fortunate to have a group of officials working on their behalf through the Consortium of Fiscal Responsibility.� The Consortium is comprised of 205 public officials from 117 towns and cities statewide who are working to reform State mandates to control property taxes.�

On Monday Feb 2nd at 2PM in Room 1D of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, the State�s Planning and Development Committee is holding an informational meeting on mandate relief. The Consortium for Fiscal Responsibility will be participating, along with representatives of CABE, COST, and CCM.�

As the State faces budget deficits which could reach $8 to $10 billion for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011, it is imperative that the State Legislature enact mandate reforms this year to include Binding Arbitration and Prevailing Wage laws.�

Please attend this Forum in support of the Consortium as they work on behalf of Connecticut taxpayers.� If you cannot attend, please direct an email to the Planning and Development membership offering your support for mandate reform and relief from such mandates as Binding Arbitration and Prevailing Wage.�

�http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/MemberList.asp?comm_code=PD&doc_type=

As legislative bills are proposed, the Federation will keep you informed so that you can lobby your individual state representatives for their passage.

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Governor Rell: Current Year Deficit

Skyrockets to Nearly $922 Million

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced that her budget office now estimates the deficit for the current fiscal year at nearly $922 million � even after the latest round of budget cutting � because income tax, business tax and sales tax collections have fallen dramatically below expectations.

The most recent deadline for quarterly estimated income tax payments was January 15. Those payments were 20 percent below projections, and if these trends continue income tax revenues for the entire year will likely fall $665 million � nearly two-thirds of a billion dollars � below projections, Governor Rell said. http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=3675&Q=432234

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Could Connecticut state employee unions be causing their own demise by demanding wage increases?� Is Governor Rell preparing to lay off workers to control the State�s spiraling debt?� The following report was recently produced by the State and provides insight into the�

SCOPE OF THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY TO ORDER STATE EMPLOYEE LAYOFFS January 7, 2009 � The governor has fairly broad power to order state employee layoffs, but this power is limited by an array of constitutional, legal, practical, and political barriers. Continued at http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/rpt/2009-R-0014.htm

If no action is taken by the state legislature, the Corrections Officers contract will go into effect on February 13, 2009, with wage increases for some reaching 6%.� While private sector workers are losing their jobs, some state legislators want to give state employees more, and they want taxpayers to pay for it.��

Call your State Representatives today and encourage them to pass legislation Freezing all State and Muncipal Employee Salaries, to Reform State Binding Arbitration Laws, and to Vote NO on the Corrections Officers Contracts.�

Their failure to do so will allow for similar tax increases as being proposed by East Windsor�.

School chief proposes 5.59% budget hike, driven by teacher raises� By Kory Loucks� Journal Inquirer

Published: Friday, January 16, 2009 11:08 AM EST

EAST WINDSOR � School Superintendent Timothy S. Howes has proposed a $19.7 million budget for 2009-10, a 5.59 percent increase over the current year�s spending plan.� As in the past, most of the spending increase is for costs over which the school board has no direct control, according to Howes.� Continued at � http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2009/01/21/towns/east_windsor/doc4970932451486508175297.txt

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The following is an example of what is happening throughout the country in private industry!

Economy: Sharpest decline in 26 years

Economic activity shrank by 3.8% in last three months of 2008, according to the government's gross domestic product report.� http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/30/news/economy/gdp/index.htm

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Job cuts exceed 100,000 for the week� http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/30/news/economy/job_loss_roundup/index.htm

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Job Cuts in 2009

The Body Count so far this Year: 207,120 Jobs

Look what companies are laying off

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/26/news/economy/job_cuts/index.htm

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Jan 27, 2009 - Bloody Monday: Over 71,400 jobs lost

Seven companies announce massive job cuts in a scary start to the week.� NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The final week of January began with a bloodbath for the job market, as over 71,400 more cuts were announced on Monday alone.� At least six companies from manufacturing and service industries announced cost-cutting initiatives that included slashing thousands of jobs.� More than 200,000 job cuts have been announced so far this year, according to company reports. Nearly 2.6 million jobs were lost over 2008, the highest yearly job-loss total since 1945. http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/26/news/economy/job_cuts/index.htm

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UTC Says More Job Cuts To Come In '09

United Technologies Corp. said Wednesday it will start 2009 by slashing jobs, despite reporting higher profits for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Full Story: Hartford Courant

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Ohio Governor calls for $250 million in concessions from State Employees The state has asked workers in its largest labor union to accept a 5 percent across-the-board pay cut, a shorter work week and unpaid holidays to help balance the state's troubled budget, according to a document obtained by The Plain Dealer. The list of cuts and changes Gov. Ted Strickland's administration has asked the workers to accept, which also includes mandatory furloughs and paying more for their health insurance, would amount to $250 million in concessions, according to a members-only e-mail from Ohio Civil Service Employees Association president Eddie L. Parks.

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2009/01/state_employees_stunned_by_req.html

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Mass layoffs surge in 2008, continue at rapid pace, AP, By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER� posted: 4 HOURS 46 MINUTES AGO

WASHINGTON -Mass layoffs involving 50 or more workers increased sharply last year, and large job cuts appear to be accelerating in 2009 at a furious pace.

Boeing , Pfizer , Home Depot and other U.S. corporate titans have announced tens of thousands of job cuts this week alone. The economy is likely to continue to shed jobs for the rest of this year, even if an economic stimulus bill pushed by President Barack Obama is approved, economists said. The Labor Department reported Wednesday that 21,137 mass layoffs took place last year, up from 15,493 in 2007. That's the highest annual total since 2001, the last time the economy was in recession, and the second-highest since the department began tracking mass layoffs in 1995. More than 2.1 million workers were fired as a result of last year's mass layoffs, the department said. Large corporations continued to hemorrhage jobs Wednesday, as Boeing Co. said it would cut 5,500 positions, on top of 4,500 layoffs announced earlier this month. Airlines are ordering fewer planes as air travel declines due to the global economic slowdown. Continued at � http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/mass-layoffs-surge-in-2008-continue-at/321024?flv=1

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Tolland officials look to residents for budget input as financial outlook worsens By Max Bakke� Journal Inquirer� Published: Thursday, January 15, 2009 12:08 PM EST� TOLLAND � Each winter, the town provides residents with a free salt and sand mixture at the Dunhill garage, but that service could end.� Town Manager Steven R. Werbner said that after complaints about people exploiting the service � which costs $5,500 annually � by loading up large trucks or sharing the mix with non-residents, he�s moved the site behind the highway garage where it can be better monitored by town staff.It�s a small example of the steps town officials are taking toward managing a difficult financial situation. Werbner cautioned that the town shouldn�t waste money on an exploited service, no matter how small.� �It�s not a rosy picture,� he said this week of the town�s current fiscal climate and the two-front task of presenting a palatable spending plan for next year and closing a waffling budget shortfall in the current year that�s flirting with $300,000.

http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2009/01/22/towns/tolland/doc496f672e4b1b2489747360.txt

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SW school superintendent proposes 7.37 percent budget increase�� By Kory Loucks�� Journal Inquirer�� January 28, 2009 12:09 PM�

SOUTH WINDSOR � Despite pleas from parents to add another second-grade teacher to Phillip R. Smith Elementary School, Superintendent Robert E. Kozaczka�s proposed $64.42 million budget for 2009-10 includes no additional teachers and could be eliminating some. The proposed 2009-10 budget represents a 7.37 percent increase over the 2008-09 plan that totals $60 million. However, Kozaczka, in making his presentation to the Board of Education on Tuesday, has included three levels of reductions that ultimately could reduce the budget to $62.45 million. That would equate to a 4.09 percent increase over the 2008-09 budget.

�Most of the budget increase request is driven by health insurance, pension, salaries, and special-education costs,� Kozaczka said.� http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2009/01/28/towns/south_windsor/doc4980847288cf6546157890.txt

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Union wage freezes sought as part of budgeting process
BY KURT MOFFETT REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN Jan 22, 09

THOMASTON � School officials are waiting to see if the local unions representing teachers, administrators and clerical workers will accept wage freezes in 2009-10 before putting a spending proposal together for the next fiscal year. Union representatives told the Board of Education's budget committee Tuesday that they will meet with their members within the next two weeks about whether they are willing to decline raises next year. The committee is scheduled to meet again Feb. 5 to recommend a budget to the full board for its Feb. 9 meeting. http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2009/01/22/news/393164.txt

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How Does your Town�s Mill Rate Compare to Other Towns: Description - A mill is equal to $1.00 of tax for each $1,000 of assessment. To calculate the property tax, multiply the assessment of the property by the mill rate and divide by 1,000. For example, a property with a assessed value of $50,000 located in a municipality with a mill rate of 20 mills would have a property tax bill of $1,000 per year.� Local property tax mill rates have been set for individual Connecticut municipalities for fiscal year 2008-2009. These rates are based upon the 2007 grand list and are available below. These are the most current mill rates and are reftected in each municipality's July 2008 tax bills. http://www.ct.gov/opm/lib/opm/igp/dataresc/list_of_2007_rates.xls

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Governor Rell: Cut State Fleet by 20 Percent, Reduce Future Costs of State Cars Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she has issued an Executive Order cutting the state�s fleet of cars and trucks by 20 percent, imposing much stricter rules on when and why state employees can use a state-owned vehicle and taking cars away from most state agency commissioners and any employee who speeds or drives recklessly.�� Governor Rell�s order targets one of the most frequent suggestions offered on her budget ideas Web site. Hundreds of people have recommended that the state reduce the number of cars it owns and limit the number of employees allowed to use them.� Executive Order No. 22 gives the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) final authority over buying and maintaining all state vehicles except the specialized vehicles needed by the Department of Transportation. The current, decentralized system of allowing agencies to have their own fleets has resulted in inefficiency, waste and inappropriate use of cars, the Governor said. http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=3675&Q=431520

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