Report by Paula Antolini, May 4, 2020,10:28AM EDT
OPINION / LETTER TO THE EDITOR
With voting rights suspended, via the Governor’s command under EO 7HH, Bethelites don’t get to vote. This is taxation without representation. Our Board of Finance, dominated by members of the Governor’s party, along with the same party in command of the Board of Selectman can do what they want. Their role is to propose, and our role as citizens turned subjects is to vote for or against. We are now denied that representation.
A public hearing is in set for May 12th, and emails can be sent to budget@bethel-ct.gov, this is no substitute for our right to vote.
The proposed $1.77 million increase year to year will add .33 mills to the tax rate, increasing to a total of 33.74. The usual crowd cites this as a “small monthly increase”, as they usually do. But these are Covid-19 times, and not the usual times. That “little monthly increase” is added to a total tax amount that is no longer affordable to the many out of work. For a home with a market value of $350,000 (or assessed value of $245,000) the new tax burden would be $8266 a year (or about $670 a month) Raising taxes is morally wrong, given the unemployment, financial pain and depravation of voting rights under color of law.
In fact, a ZERO increase in the mill rate still means a budget INCREASE year to year in excess of $1.1 million dollars!
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That will have to be enough. Bargaining units may need to be asked to defer raises for a time. That’s unfair. Some municipal workers may need to be furloughed, including a few days from the schools. That’s also unfair. Covid-19 is unfair. That people are out of work is unfair, and that we are being deprived the right to vote is a clear violation of our rights.
Tell the Board of Finance NO TAX RATE INCREASE. Submit your letters by May 11th, and also demand of our Governor to rescind EO 7HH. We can vote safely; more safely than a trip to the store. It’s our RIGHT. No new taxes without representation.
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Bill Hillman
Bethel, CT
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