House passes reval bill...but is this a good thing?
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 Time: 8:56 PM
While I spent the day covering a number of events at the Capitol, I was able to watch the House join the Senate in approving the reval bill.
The House joined the Senate Tuesday in giving final passage to a bill that would allow municipalities to delay their property revaluations until 2011.
The bill passed the House Tuesday 125 to 18 and was immediately transmitted to Gov. M. Jodi Rell for her approval.
Rep. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, said as chairman of the legislature’s Planning and Development Committee he reluctantly came to support the legislation.
Once the Governor signs the bill Mayor Boughton will stop this year's phase-in of the reval.
...sounds great right? Well, not so fast. Remember, don't think of this as a tax break but rather a deferment...you'll still have to pay the piper NEXT year!]
ALSO, residents need to understand that the determining factor in tax rates is SPENDING...and when it coems to that subject, Danbury's current mayor's spending habits are killing us.
For example, let me point you to an exchange readers at CTNews Junkie are having on this very subject. Although the focus on this conversation is New Haven, in this case, you can easily substitute references to the Elm City (and DeStefano) for the Hat City (and Boughton).
Many local leaders would like nothing better than to portray themselves as the hapless victims of state law, rather than what they are: elected representatives refusing to make difficult budgetary decisions.
The driving force in determining tax rates is spending. This is expressed through a town's mill rate. Property valuations are a footnote. Focusing taxpayer attention on the phase-in (or a freeze of it), is irresponsible, in that it distracts from the real issues facing our towns and cities.
New Haven has approximately $1.5 billion dollars in debts and unfunded liabilities. Our mayor and aldermen seem to be ducking the issue. Unless this is addressed, it seems to me that taxes are going to go have to rise steeply sooner or later, services are going to be cut, and the city will have limited options at a time when pursuing new options is critical.
[...]
People must know that assessed values are not the basis of taxes, instead as Tim so rightly points it is spending. To illustrate, had New Haven frozen spending and continued the phase-in the mill rate would haven been lowered. They didn't want this since a lower mill rate would generate less revenue from personal property and motor vechicle. New Haven will continue to operate on the verge of bankruptcy, but the mayor hopes this recent misleading of the tax payers will keep him in office.
Food for thought when you think about the out-of-control spending habits of Boughton...but I'll dig into that later. For now, since you've read this piece, go back and watch Councilman Warren Levy's comment regarding the problems with this year's budget in the post below.
In honor of the threats launched against Warren Levy by our hot-headed mayor, this post is bumped to the top
Although noted in his News-Times write-up, Dirk Perrefort's piece come up a tad bit short in terms of painting the full picture of the events that happened last night (most notably how Republicans in essence screwed those who were critical of the budget from having an opportunity to speak.
While I'll elaborate on that troubling portion of the meeting later, at least one critic of Boughton's sham of a budget was able to speak...and his remarks were spot-on.
From last night, here's Common Councilman Warren Levy sounding the alarm bells and informing the public about Boughton's ticking time bomb...
I'll have more footage from last night's budget later...
The State Capitol Police Department arrested the Vice President of NORML CT for emailing threats to State Senator Toni Boucher.
Dominic Vita, 28, Somers, was charged with Disorderly Conduct in connection with an an email that contained threatening and alarming statements pertaining Boucher who represents the 26th District.
Police said Vita, who is vice president of NORML, a group that advocates for the reform of marijuana laws, made statements in a profanity laced email to the effect of, "I'm getting ready to go postal" and also referenced a specific act of violence directed at Senator Boucher.
Vita was arrested Friday in Enfield, Connecticut. He was released on a $1000.00 bond and is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Hartford Superior Court on May 11, 2009.
Why on earth would anyone threaten Sen Boucher?
You may not like her stance on certain issues but as someone who has interviewed her several times on television, I can say without hesitation that Sen. Boucher is without question one of the nicest persons at the Capitol. Why someone would want to threaten her is beyond me...
Thursday morning I got a bill-tracker email from the capitol and was frustrated by it. I went to forward the email to David and in my haste I hit REPLY instead of FORWARD. I added a line and a half of colorful venting to David. The email was addressed to DAVID, not Sen. Boucher. I was not directly threatening anyone, I was venting my frustration to David.
I am stepping down because I can no longer be a good advocate to the cause. My presence would change the tone and I refuse to let my mistake carry over to you all. I wish you all a tremendous amount of luck as this goes on. and MAKE SURE your emails are going to the right place. I am so sorry everyone.
04.25.22 (RADIO): WSHU Latino group call on Connecticut lawmakers to open a Danbury charter school
06.03.22 (OP-ED): KUSHNER: "Career Academy ‘a great deal for Danbury"
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
While I spent the day covering a number of events at the Capitol, I was able to watch the House join the Senate in approving the reval bill.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
