NEW BRITAIN'S CPOA SUPPORTS MARK BERNACKI FOR MAYOR

Every New Britain real estate owner, be they the owner of a home or a commercial business needs to pay serious attention to this election because: your TAXES WILL GO UP next year! The question is by how much.

It is impossible after some years of holding the line that taxes will no doubt have to rise no matter who is elected Mayor. As we sit here today, we are still trying as a city to squeeze into the budget year that began this past July 1st.

Couple these thoughts with the on-going property reevaluation and you can see that things will change. Property values have declined since the last analysis which means our mil rate will go up even if nothing else occurs. Our community continues to have serious needs and there will no doubt be more unfounded mandates from the State of Connecticut coupled with less money under the PILOT program. This means New Britain real estate owners will need to pick up this slack (increased taxes, higher mil rate) .

State Representative O’Brien who desires to be our Mayor recently voted for and addled us with the largest tax increase in Connecticut history. He also abdicated his elected decision making power; giving it to the Governor during the process. A professional politician, Rep. O’Brien claims he has a record of accomplishments including property tax relief; however during the primary his own party competition pointed out that this claim held no water. Rep. O’Brien's public, physical protests against tax paying New Britain businesses are mind boggling. How can Rep. O’Brien as Mayor attract and even retain tax paying business in the city when he has a record of protesting against them in their parking lots?

Mr. Bernacki who is also running for Mayor has a visible record on the Common Council and other city functions. Mr. Bernacki is a successful business owner who is involved in numerous civic organizations. Mr. Bernacki’s votes like anyone else’s are not perfect; but they are rational and with the taxpaying public’s interest in mind. Mr. Bernacki is the only Mayoral candidate who is actively involved in New Britain city government today.

Mr. Pawlak, our former mayor can’t win and will no doubt drain votes from Mr.Bernacki and Rep. O’Brien. Unless there is a miracle, Mr. Mayo doesn’t have a prayer. I appreciate the fact that they are involved and hope they will continue though. We need community people like them involved.

Therefore, a citizen who pays property tax on real estate must think in advance to July 1, 2013 when he writes his property tax payment to the city at whatever the new mil rates are due to reevaluation. Who is the candidate that will return the most value to the property tax payer at the lowest rate?

Don’t waste your vote. Don’t make a “statement”. Vote for whom you feel will give us the appropriate municipal services and a fair tax rate in order we attract and retain businesses and families who will share in the costs and rewards in our community.

People who don’t own real estate will vote for their own personal interest without having to pay for it. Real estate / property owners, especially single-family homes and commercial buildings will most likely see the largest tax increases and urgently need to vote to elect a Mayor who keep our finances in control.

Speak to your neighbors today and make them aware before the large property tax bill has a chance of showing up. Mr. Bernacki is the clear choice in preventing an unreasonable mil rate increase in the coming years. To do so, he also needs a Common Council with both Democrats and Republicans who are able to enact good policy.

Real estate tax payers need to get out on November 8th and vote for Mr Bernacki as well as some few new faces on the council – otherwise, get your checkbook out and make sure your pen has lots of ink. If you don't vote, don't complain when the tax bill shows up.

Michael W. Wanik
New Britain
A member of the CPOA