March 26, 2008

From:  Susan Kniep,  President
The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations, Inc. (FCTO)
Website:  http://ctact.org/
email:  fctopresident@aol.com
860-841-8032

 

 

 

 

 

TAX DAY AT THE CAPITOL!

 

 

April 1, 2008

 

 

 

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Legislative Office Building - Room 1B

 

 

 

 

 

A Forum to Discuss Legislation

Affecting Taxation in Connecticut

 

 

 

Hosted by the

Federation of Connecticut Taxpayers Organizations, Inc. 

 

 

In cooperation with State Representative Arthur O'Neill  

 

 

 

The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations (FCTO) is pleased to announce its second annual Tax Day at the Capitol to be held on April 1, 2008.  Connecticut property owners are burdened with one of the highest property taxes in the nation, second to New Jersey.  Our taxes are driven by such State mandates as Binding Arbitration and Prevailing Wage.  On average, 75% to 85% of local property taxes are dedicated to personnel related expenses.

 

 

On April 1, 2008, The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations will host a panel discussion on the impact of taxation in Connecticut as well as proposed solutions to include a Cap on Property Taxes, reforms to Binding Arbitration and Prevailing Wage, State Initiative and Referendum, and more. 

 

 

Panelists will include State Representative Arthur O'Neill,  State Senator Anthony Guglielmo, representatives of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, Connecticut Association of Realtors, The Consortium for Fiscal Responsibility, Office of Policy and Management,  and taxpayer organizations. 

 

 

A presentation by Peter Wolfgang will also be made on the Constitutional Convention which will be on the ballot in November, 2008.  The forum is open to all legislators, taxpayers, the public and the press. 

 

 

Please contact Susan Kniep at 841-8032 or by email at fctopresident@aol.com with any questions or comments.  Also, visit the Federation’s website at ctact.org for updates on public policy issues.

 

 

 

The April 1, 2008 Tax Day Agenda Follows…..

 

 

10:00 – 10:05      Opening Remarks by Susan Kniep, Facilitator

 

10:05 – 10:25       Rep. Art O’Neill – Why Taxpayers Need a Local Property Tax Cap

 

10:25 – 10:30      Presentation to Rep. Art O’Neill from FCTO

 

10:30 – 10:45     Robert Dakers, OPM – Implementing the Property Tax Cap 

 

10:45 -  11:00    Ron Thomas, CCM – Property Tax Relief/Unfunded Mandates

 

11:00 – 11:15     Senator Anthony Guglielmo – State Initiative and Referendum

 

11:15 – 11:30     Mike Guarco, Consortium  – Binding Arbitration & Prevailing Wage

 

11:30 – 11:45     Bonnie Stewart, CBIA – Business Tax and The Taxpayers Bill of Rights

 

11:45 – 12:00     Robert Fiorito - Connecticut Assoc. of Realtors – Conveyance Tax

 

12:00 – 12:15     Peter Wolfgang – Family Institute – Constitutional Convention

 

12:15 – 12:30    Armand Fusco –  Improving Accountability of Educational Funding

 

12:30 – 12:40     Mike Telesca – Waterbury Property Owners Association

 

12:40 – 1:00      Representatives of West Hartford and Avon Taxpayer Groups

 

1:00 – 1:45        Open to Legislators Available to Participate

 

1:45 – 2:00       Question and Answer Session/Wrap up

·                     Please note:  All Legislators have been invited to attend this forum to publicly speak on any tax issue they wish to address this legislative session.

 

·                     We reserved extra time on our agenda to allow any and all Legislators to join us, who were not initially able to commit to speak on April 1.