Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations

CONNECTICUT TAXPAYERS: We know you are understandably upset. State officials have incurred a $74.3 BILLION DEBT and $3 BILLION DEFICIT. In addition thirteen (13) State labor union contracts are being negotiated. And now Governor Malloy wants you - through your property taxes - to pick up the tab for State Teacher Retirements (see attached).

Please read A Legacy of Debt an Excellent Five Part Series on the State of our State by CTMirror.org. A special thank you is extended to Keith Phaneuf and all who worked with him on this very extensive project. Knowledge is power, and as such Taxpayers throughout Connecticut must take action and demand accountability from those whom we elect to office. See our Resolution below. Susan Kniep

February 6, 2017

From: The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayers
Contact: Susan Kniep, President
Website: http://ctact.org/
Email: fctopresident@aol.com
Telephone: 860-841-8032

In addition to State officials having incurred a $74.3 BILLION DEBT as well as a $3 BILLION DEFICIT over the next two years, thirteen (13) state labor union contracts have expired and are being negotiated.

These contracts have historically been negotiated in secret behind closed doors, then concealed from the public for 30 days after which time they became legally binding contracts. Then you got the bill!!!

Obviously, this practice must end. Please review the proposed Resolution at the end. Then ask your local legislative body-your town council or Board of Selectmen, etc. - to vote on the Resolution and send it on to your State Representative(s). If you have any questions, please call me.

And as CTMirror.org reports

Debts to pay, fiscal and political, here and in Washington

By: PAUL STERN | February 5, 2017

While the ferment continued around the country over President Donald Trumps temporary ban on immigration from seven predominantly Muslim nations, Connecticut on Monday was waking up to disturbing news of another kind: the Mirrors in-depth series on the dire condition of state governments finances.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloys upcoming proposal for closing a $3 billion deficit in the next two-year budget will be only the beginning of a struggle that could last for another generation. Budgetary problems already have had a big impact on critical programs such as higher education, transportation and social services. And his newest idea could have more: shifting $407.6 million, nearly one-third of the annual cost of municipal school teachers pensions, onto cities and towns. Continue Reading →

Now Lets Return to the Most Disturbing Headline

Malloy would bill towns for teachers pensions, cut middle-class tax credit

Attached is a list of Teacher Pensions as of 2015.

We have requested an updated list and will forward to you when received.

Malloys latest proposal could result in some Connecticut homeowners being taxed out of their homes through increased property taxes. By state law, the failure to pay your property tax can ultimately result in a tax lien/deed sale.

WHAT IS A TAX LIEN SALE - East Hartford CT

Tax Lien Certificates Tax Deed Sales in Connecticut CT

In the Town of East Hartford, on February 7, 2017, the East Hartford Town Council will be voting to Recommend Tax Lien Sales for several properties. Click on 02-07-17 Town Council Packet and scroll down to Page 24 through 41 to view the properties recommended for Tax Lien Sales, etc. Determine if similar sales are occurring in your town.

East Hartford taxpayers pay the fifth highest mill rate in the State. What is the mill rate in your town by comparison? Check it out at Mill Rates. To explore further click on OPM: Mill Rates - CT.gov

The irony is It is a crime to enter your home and rob you of your possessions. However, Your elected state and local officials can legally tax you out of your home. A home in which you have raised your children, worked hard to pay off your mortgage, but on which you cannot afford the property taxes. It does not seem quite fair - does it? Yet, this is happening throughout Connecticut to good, honest, law abiding citizens some of whom could be your neighbors.

So just how high are Connecticut Taxes? Click on 2016s States with the Highest & Lowest Tax Burdens | WalletHub and you will see Connecticut is fifth from the top.

Regardless of Connecticuts high debt and deficits, our State elected officials continue to spend, spend, spend as evidenced by the meetings of the States Bond Commission which you can access at VIEW CURRENT AND PAST MEETING AGENDA.

One of those recent expenditures was for $10 million as highlighted by the Hartford Business Journal in their article captioned State OKs borrowing for Mohegan development.

There is also a concern for the lack of accountability of our money which is exemplified within the following Journal Inquirer article written by Eric Bedner captioned

Audit: Numerous 6-figure payments made to outgoing state employees

Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2017 12:00 pm

HARTFORD The state made numerous six-figure payments to departing employees to avoid lawsuits or prevent them from speaking about their work for the state, according to a 2016 annual report from the state Auditors of Public Accounts to the General Assembly.

None of the payments were part of a settlement agreement or approved by the governor or attorney general, a violation of state law.

During the course of the audits, Auditor John Geragosian said, it was found that large payments were made to departing employees. Upon further investigation and after discussions with agency staff, auditors determined the payments, many of which were in excess of $100,000, were made to avoid litigation or as part of non-disparagement agreements. Continue reading at http://www.journalinquirer.com/connecticut_and_region/audit-numerous--figure-payments-made-to-outgoing-state-employees/article_1522a556-e969-11e6-9cfe-776f0cfbdbe8.html

Also Check Out

The Journal Inquirer (@JournalInquirer) | Twitter

Journal Inquirer: North-Central Connecticuts Hometown Newspaper

www.journalinquirer.com/

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Jon Lender of the Hartford Courant reports

AG Filing Suit Over Alleged Scheme To Prescribe Unnecessary Drugs For State Employees

Jepsens office initiated a lawsuit Thursday seeking potentially more than $1 million in damages from a Fairfield County physician and her UConn-employee husband, alleging that they schemed to write costly and medically unnecessary prescriptions for people covered by the state employees pharmacy benefit program. Continue reading at http://www.courant.com/politics/government-watch/hc-lender-drugs-suit-20170201-column.html

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To learn where your tax dollars are going, click Transparency Connecticut to get started. Included are ‎Pensions Employee Compensation Payments View details

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Taxpayers: Please ask your local legislative body to consider approving the following Resolution or something similar to it and then send it to your state legislators.

RESOLUTION TO REJECT THE GOVERNORS PROPOSAL REGARDING TEACHER PENSIONS AND TO PROMOTE FULL TRANSPARENCY AND LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF ALL STATE PUBLIC SECTOR UNION CONTRACTS

WHEREAS, The financial impact of diverting the payment for Teachers Pensions from the State to the 169 Connecticut towns could have a deleterious impact on local property owners and in turn increase tax lien sales, and

WHEREAS, The cost of all Public Sector State Employee Union Contracts are ultimately billed to Connecticut taxpayers, and

WHEREAS, Approximately 13 State Employee Union Contracts expired in 2016 and are up for renewal, and

WHEREAS, The associated costs of the revised 13 State Employee Union Contracts will be passed on to the taxpayers of Connecticut, and

WHEREAS, According to the States Latest Fiscal accountability report fiscal years 2017 to 2020-CT.gov, Connecticuts debt has reached $74.3 BILLION DOLLARS, and

WHEREAS, The majority of the States Debt is driven by State Retiree Pensions and Healthcare Benefits as follows: State Employee Retirement System (SERS) $14.9 Billion; Teachers Retirement System $13.2 Billion; State Post Employment Health and Life $18.9 Billion; Teacher Post Employment Health and Life $3.0 Billion, and

WHEREAS, Connecticut taxpayers pay the fourth highest taxes in the country, which are driven by public sector union contracts, both at the state and local levels of government, and

WHEREAS, The cost of future State Employee Union Contracts coupled with the debt already incurred by previously approved State Employee Union Contracts could impose an even greater tax burden on State and local taxpayers, their children and grandchildren, while also increasing the States debt, and

WHEREAS, Some state retiree annual pensions are now at $297,614; $295,292; $258,720; $244,086; $227,926; $224,354; $223,301; $222,472; $216,021; $213,566; $208,036; $204,850; $200,063; $196,979, and

WHEREAS, The more tax dollars dedicated to State employee wages, benefits and pensions, the less tax dollars are available to fund municipal aid, education, roads, healthcare, etc.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, We, the Legislative Body of the Town of , ask our State Legislators to REJECT GOVERNOR MALLOYS PROPOSAL REGARDING TEACHER PENSIONS and to PROMOTE FULL TRANSPARENCY AND LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF ALL STATE PUBLIC SECTOR UNION CONTRACTS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

We make this request recognizing that it is TAXPAYERS in the Town of ______________________________________, along with the TAXPAYERS in all of Connecticuts 169 towns, who are ultimately billed to pay for the costs associated with all Public Sector Union contracts.

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