FRANKSMITHSAYSNB EDITORIAL:
As I just reported, elected and public officials currently owe the City of New Britain in excess of $50,000 in unpaid real estate and motor vehicle property taxes.
This is both shameful and outrageous. If the people responsible for enforcing our laws can't bother paying their taxes, why should anyone else? I understand the economy is presently experiencing difficulties, but the citizens, and rightfully so, expect their elected and public officials to be held to a higher standard.
Topping the list is a former Democratic mayor, who continues to serve as a Justice of the Peace, who as of 9/11 reportedly owed the city just over $12,000.00 in taxes. There is also a former Democratic candidate for mayor, also serving as a Justice of the Peace who as of 9/29 reportedly owed the city $685.02.
Even more outrageous is the fact that 2 Aldermen who made my list in April for tax delinquencies, are here again for a second time this year reported as owing the city a combined total of more than $1,700.00.
When will the public finally have had enough of their public officials thumbing their noses at the same laws that the rest of us are expected to obey? It seems it might be time for a revision to the city charter that calls for the removal from office of any elected official who is more than 60 days delinquent with their property taxes. Another possibility would be to require everyone to get a clearance from the tax collector certifying their taxes are current before they can either run for, or be appointed to public office, and why not? If they can't pay the same taxes the rest of us must pay, should they be allowed to serve--especially if they are the ones determining how much the rest of us must pay?
There are only two problems with that solution. The Democratic controlled council that would be charged with enforcing such a requirement is made up of many of the violators. Secondly, charter sections that mandate the removal of office seem to mean very little to the majority gang on this council. They demonstrated their ability to ignore just such a law when they not only allowed their fellow Democratic Alderman to speak against and vote against his own ethics case, but they actually joined him in voting against the issue, which at least on Cantanzaro's part violated section 4-7 of the charter, and the penalty mandated by the charter--expulsion from the council. Twelve Aldermen actually voted with him, and then neglected their own sworn duty by not taking action to enforce section 4-7 of the city charter, and what does the charter say about this? The only ones that can take action against any of the twelve, are the Aldermen themselves, so they are "untouchable" and are free to ignore the law, unless you hold them accountable next month.
Maybe the time has come to elect Aldermen who will actually pay their taxes, and who will respect the law by performing their duties without regard for partisan politics?
What do you think? You will have a chance to voice your opinion on November 3rd.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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4 comments:
Now I know how O'Brien is going to keep taxes low.
He is planning on getting the members of his team to actually pay their taxes!
Is there a way to publish the names of all taxpayers who are delinquent on their taxes, whether it be in the newspapers or the internet? Why just publish the names of politicians who are delingquent?
I appreciate the chance to know which candidates are responsible enough to pay their taxes. If they are that irresponsible that they can't even pay their car taxes, what would they be irresponsible about if elected?
Very interesting link. Frankie are you not doing one for 2010? Are you going to provide us with an update since 2009 has come and gone?
For those that commented, I wonder how many of them are delinquent with their taxes?!?!?!
There is no excuse for those that are more than 2 months behind. Some people actually like to wait until December to pay for their taxes (interest included) based on how they budget.
The bottom line is that the leaders for the City of New Britain definitely need to lead by example. Do I agree with listing the names of elected and public officials, not at all since I'm one of them (by the way, I'm current) but this is something we have to deal with and when voting for our city leaders the community needs to know a lot more than just whether or not they paid their taxes.
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