Public hearing recap
Click on the pages to read the details of the proposal.
The public hearing on elderly tax relief was tonight. I thought it went well... it was much shorter than I had expected. I think next week's key sticking points will be:
1) the existence of a lien
2) the additional income bracket (I know some people feel the program is already generous).
I'll write more later... still organizing my thoughts, but for the time being... I'll just say that I'm very annoyed with the system we have. And my thoughts from a year ago (in my very first post!) haven't changed for the most part (the property tax still stinks, while our legislators continue to pay lip service to "reform").
I still think helping those in need is appropriate. And in Cheshire, those most in need tend to be seniors.
Any comments about tonight's meeting?
Tim White
Town Council, Budget Committee
11 comments:
Generous – (adj) a word used by Mr. Schrumm to describe the nature of the Cheshire’s senior tax relief program WHILE IN THE MAJORITY in early 2005
Inadequate – (adj) a word used by Mr. Schrumm to describe the nature of the Cheshire’s senior tax relief program WHILE IN THE MINORITY in early 2006
As I said last night the entire process appeared to be flawed from the start. The Seniors wanted a tax freeze, that means freeze their taxes at the current level until they die. No liens, no accruals of lost tax revenue. They would have even supported paying icreased taxes for the municipal side but not the BOE. What happened was the lowest income level seniors got a $194 tax reduction and only if taxes do not go up between now and July 1st. None of the proposals turned in by citizens were discussed in the meetings, none of the proposals were analayzed with collected data to see what each would have cost the Town. The process and decision was driven by the Town Manager to minimize lost revenue, it is that simple. The current program costs (the Town does not collect) $500,000 from the 452 senior housholds on the program. If you want to use the past tactic of "it would only cost the other taxayers in Town $50 per year." No effort was made to identify, consider spending reductions to pay for the senior tax credit program. The process should have determined what a fair and proper tax relief program would have cost, then look for ways to pay for it. If the Town could not absorb or find cost reductions to pay for it then reduce the tax relief. That would have been a fair method of loooking at the issue. The senior household population that earns $27,000 per year and below is a steadily decreasing number and over the short period the cost of a fair tax relief program would have decreased. Seniors in the lower income brackets will not rush to live in Cheshire, they simply cannot afford it.
GW Schrumm is done this year. The war, the income tax increase and the northend. I’m ashamed to be a Republican.
The seniors got a great deal last night. There is not no doubt about that. And Mrs Carson wants a referendum-lets look at the vote in Southington. If you go to vote you will go down in flames, and if you are smart you will take your good deal and go home
Is the Cheshire Republican Party becoming CAVE men?
Is seems as if many GOP officials in Cheshire can be defined as CAVE men – Citizens Against Virtually Everything??
Now they are against senior tax breaks. What next are they going to come out to bulldoze the senior center?
I find it interesting that Democrats hold a majority of the Town Council, a majority of the Board of Education, and a majority of the Planning & Zoning Commission - yet this blog is laden with juvenile comments about David Schrumm and Republicans. Makes you kinda wonder......
9:01 I agree. It does make you wonder. Very juvenile. Kinda makes me sick.
It would make me sick too if someone was pointing out my lies.
This whole discussion is juvenile. I think there needs to be some serious growing up. Since when have the Republicans had a monopoly on false statements. The Democrats ran on Senior Property Tax Relief and then when push came to shove left all the seniors in the cold. So let's cut out the mud slinging and act like adults. And for the record I'm a registed Dem. who's disgusted with what I've been reading in this blog.
Last night at the Town Council Meeting. by approving property tax relief. the council did a good thing for our seniors and the town as a whole.
Post a Comment