Public Comments: Revaluation and Taxes in South Windsor

I'm Steve Wagner, 181 Tumblebrook Drive.

I see on tonight's agenda, a discussion of the revaluation. I can only
assume that that will include a claim that the recent tax increase is due to
the revaluation.
.       This is at best a half truth and it misses the nightmare that the
council's increase in spending is causing a large number of our voters.
.       We all know that the real estate portion of the grand list
decreased. We can thank national banking and lending malfeasance for that.
.       But did you know that despite that, the assessment went up on over
900 homes? You had to know. You had to know what an 18% increase in the mil
rate would do to those residents.
.       Did you know that while the Republicans controlled the budget, 5000
voters saw their real estate taxes increase by over $500? For some it was
over $2000!
.       Did you know that the tax increase was 6 times the rate of inflation
for over 3000 voters while Republicans controlled the budget?
.       You had to know that more than 500 hundred voters over 60 would see
their taxes increase $1000 or more! Any wonder why seniors and empty-nesters
are running from the town?
.       You knew that nothing was being done to reduce sewer fees after the
town portion of the budget assumed a $1.6 million per year increase in
bonding for the new sewer plant.
.       . that seniors and empty-nesters get no relief from sewer fees that
don't reflect usage.
.       . that vehicle taxes would go up even as our cars, trucks and
motorcycles got a year older.
.       . that businesses would suffer from a 20% tax increase on their
personal property.
You had to know this, yet you still raised town government spending by 5.64%
this year, 3.3 times the rate of inflation.
.       I congratulate the Democratic minority for talking you out of
$500,000 in capital and leasing expenditures.
.       Too bad they couldn't convince you to put off forcing voters to pay
for banking $400,000 in cash to a later year.
.       That choice might have had a minor impact on the Moody's rating we
just received. But while it helped the bankers, it hurt the taxpayers at a
vulnerable time.
.       This data is publicly available and it was available to you when you
made the decisions you made.
You hurt a large number of our taxpayers and they should hold you
accountable.

The preceding are the comments made by Steve Wagner, Democratic Town Council candidate and current Town Planning and Zoning alternate, at Monday's council meeting, submitted for publication.