Friday, June 29, 2012

What You Need to Know about Revaluation

By: Nicholas Mercier, CPOA President
Posted by Frank Smith at 29.6.12

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the information. People should print it out. No one knows what might happen in the future!

June 29, 2012 at 11:24 AM
Anonymous said...

BRISTOL CT - Charter Panel Hears Ideas To Rein In Taxes & Spending? Take note- New Britain Taxpayers? Post Your Comment?

Several fiscal conservatives proposed to the Bristol Charter Revision Commission, ways to restructure the Bristol Charter to discourage large Spending & Tax increases.

Three ideas offered would attack local government Spending in different ways. But each proposal would let voters decide directly before any hefty tax or budget increase could pass.

The Charter Revision Commission heard ideas from Republican council members Ken Cockayne and Derek Czenczelewski and resident Jake Carrier.

Each one said he was looking for a way to block a repeat of the 6 percent tax increase that the council and finance board approved this spring.

Mr.Jake Carrier proposed a charter provision that requires a referendum for any budget increase, and cited several communities where public votes are typical at budget season. Bristol has no budget referendum; instead, the council and finance board jointly decide on government spending and the tax rate.

"My salary decreased in the past years. A 6 percent tax increase is completely impractical now," resident Jake Carrier said..

Derek Czenczelewski recommended that the charter limit budget increases to the size of the most recent grand list increase, up to a maximum of 3 percent. If the finance board and council propose more than a 3 percent increase, a referendum would be automatic. And if the grand list stayed flat or fell, the city would need a referendum to approve any budget increase that year.

"We should only be spending what we're taking in," Derek said. Ken Cockayne's plan is a bit simpler: It would force a referendum for any budget with an increase above 3 percent.

"It's my feeling that if the city of Bristol has something important enough to increase taxes more than 3 percent, the mayor, council and board of finance will have to convince voters to vote for it," Cockayne said. "Making a 3 percent tax increase maximum will also help control costs.

"I also believe this will be a great marketing tool that can be used to attract businesses and home owners, knowing what the tax increase max will be unlike this year when we had a 6 percent tax increase," Ken Cockayne said.

The Charter Revision Commission will be accepting ideas over the coming months, and may recommend some to the council. The council will decide which proposals go before voters on the November 2013 ballot.

In addition, Alderman Derek Czenczelewski proposed an eight-year term limit on council members and the mayor, along with constables and assessment appeals board members - Eight- Year Term Limit.

POST YOUR COMMENT....

July 1, 2012 at 3:58 PM

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