From:  Susan Kniep,  President
The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations, Inc. (FCTO)

Website:  http://ctact.org/
email:  fctopresident@aol.com

860-524-6501

April 1, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On March 22, FCTO Hosted Tax Day At The Capitol to Promote Proposition 2 ½ to Control Municipal Spending

 

 

 

On March 29, Governor Rell Proposed

Proposition 3

 

 

 

 

It’s apparent that Governor Rell wants to reverse the Tax and Spend Philosophy of the Legislature and to Mend the Tax in the interest of Connecticut Property Owners who now pay the second highest property taxes in the nation!

 

 

BRAVO, GOVERNOR RELL!  

 

 

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!  FCTO’s March 22, 2007 Tax Day at the Capitol was a great success!  State Rep O’Neill of Southbury spoke on Proposition 2 ½ to control municipal spending, Senator Lou DeLuca, pictured below, gave a presentation on the negative effects of binding arbitration on municipal budgets, and the Federation kicked off its campaign to bring union contracts out from behind the closed doors of secrecy and into the light of public debate.  Days later, Governor Rell came forward with Proposition 3.  As the Democrat leaders on the Hill in Hartford say no, taxpayers who are going bankrupt from excessive property taxes are saying yes, yes, yes to Proposition 3.   However, the success of Proposition 3 requires reforms to State Binding Arbitration laws.  This is something the Democrats in the legislature refuse to do.   Therefore, FCTO will turn our attention to the 169 towns and cities within Connecticut where we will work to end the secrecy surrounding municipal union contracts, with a proposal as outlined below.  

 

I want to take this opportunity to thank two very special women who were responsible for the success of Tax Day.  They are Theresa McGrath and Judy Aron of the West Hartford Taxpayers Association!  These ladies worked tirelessly on making the day both enjoyable and informative for all.  Theresa McGrath has been a crusader for Proposition 2 1/2 as was acknowledged recently by the Hartford Advocate. 

 Please click on the following heading for the full report on Tax Day by Judy Aron, Public Relations, FCTO. 

Tax Day was a Great Success

 

 

Also Read the Hartford Courant article on Governor Rell’s Proposal, and 

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-cap0329.artmar29,0,6768691.story

 

The April 1 article by the Record Journal of Meriden with comments by FCTO President Susan Kniep and FCTO Board Member Sandra Feld http://www.myrecordjournal.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=18155436&BRD=2755&PAG=461&dept_id=592754&rfi=8

 

 

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FCTO’S PLAN TO BRING UNION CONTRACTS OUT FROM

 

BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS OF SECRECY

 

Twice a year taxpayers receive a bill for something many are unfamiliar with.   They have to pay this bill.  If they are unable to pay, their town officials will ultimately take their homes from them.  The bill is called a property tax bill.  The tax bill holds many secrets.  The secrets are the wages, the healthcare, the pensions, and changes in working conditions and other associated costs of union contracts.  The secrets are between the unions and town officials.  Sometimes arbitrators know the secrets.   The secrets are revealed after all the members of the unions learn the secrets, vote on the secrets, the contracts are signed and the bill for those secrets is sent to taxpayers. 

 

The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations, Inc. wants to end the secrecy surrounding union contracts for which taxpayers pay between 75% to 85% of their property taxes.   In addition, taxpayers deserve a full accounting of the costs associated with each contract and the right to express their position on contracts prior to their implementation. 

 

As such, the Federation is beginning a campaign to encourage local officials in the 169 towns throughout Connecticut to incorporate the following within their Town Charters and/or Town Ordinances:

 

1. PUBLIC NEGOTIATIONS:  Negotiations of Union Contracts would be conducted in full public view with dates of negotiations placed on file with the Town Clerk’s office.
2. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING:  A full financial accounting of the terms of the contract would be provided to the citizens of the municipality through the town clerk’s office and on a town’s website.  A delineation of costs would include salaries, healthcare, pensions, and costs associated with any and all changes in working conditions.
3. PUBLIC HEARING:  A public hearing would be required to be held by the municipality on the contract allowing for public input.    
4. If the contract was subject to arbitration, the municipality would be required to
1. Adhere to Item 1 prior to arbitration,
2. Provide a full Financial Accounting of the Contract as stipulated to in Item 2 which would reflect the decisions of the arbitrators.
3. Hold a Public Hearing on the contract, reflecting the terms set by the arbitrators.

 

Taxpayers can no longer wait patiently for their State elected officials to reform State Binding Arbitration Laws to protect them from the increasing costs associated with union contracts.   Local elected officials can no longer continue to burden taxpayers with steady property tax increases driven by union contracts which are forcing some taxpayers to lose their most prized possession, their homes. 

 

The secrecy surrounding union contracts must end.  Union contracts are funded by public dollars.  The public is entitled to become part of the equation. 

 

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THE BEST AND WORST STATES FOR TAXES: We pay Uncle Sam the same no matter where we live, but property, gasoline, tobacco, sales and state income taxes are all over the map.  By Scott McCredie - Click the following to read the complete article:  http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/Advice/TheBestAndWorstStatesForTaxes.aspx?page=all

 

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