Tax collection is higher than expected: The Revenue Collection Office reported that, despite the struggling economy, tax collection exceeded the 99% collection rate by 0.1% for fiscal year 2008-2009. - WH Town Manager Council Briefs August 21, 2009
Even though tax collections are up and we seem to be muddling though this poor economy in our town, we are still seeing store closings in The Center. The last casualties were Zachers Photo Shop and Mimi's Maternity. We haven't heard a peep from Robert Rowlson, West Hartford's Business and Community Development Officer.
Meanwhile, people are beginning to fret about the impending "NO leaf collection" season and the Mayor and Town Manager are also having to deal with the harsh reality and associated problems of NO State money coming from Hartford while the State budget is still at an impasse. It looks like our libraries might be negatively impacted in the process.
Rep. David McCluskey (D), took an opportunity at a recent rally at Bishop's Corner to complain about the Governor's stance on the budget - but did not mention where else State government should make cuts in order to close the 8 billion dollar State budget deficit. It appears that he and other State lawmakers would just rather have Governor Rell approve of raising State taxes on everyone, in the middle of one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression.
Memo to Rep. McCluskey: Our State legislature has made business operation costly and difficult in CT. You and your legislative colleagues cannot continue to tax and spend, especially now. Cuts in Library services ARE in part the fault of the legislature YOU belong to. It is NOT just the Governor's fault. The unfunded mandates, spending programs and Union benefits that YOU supported are coming to haunt our Towns and taxpayers. The question remains: What are YOU proposing in order to bring business back to Connecticut and to make government less expensive? We cannot sustain the levels of spending that you prefer, especially in this economy (which by many accounts is bound to get worse).
6 WH Responses:
The legislature is NOT proposing a tax increase for everyone...only those with income of OVER 600K per annum.
Weren't they talking about raising the tax on liquor, smokes, corporations, unemployment tax has already gone up. I'm sure we can think of other taxes they're planning on raising as well.
Wasn't that number $500K. But what's $100K amongst friends
I listened to a Darien legislator yesterday bemoan the fallout for his district. Yes, many people worked in the NYC financial markets, but they were facing hard times. Some had been laid off, other had lost their bonuses or had to accept smaller bonuses than usual. OK -- reality check. The higher taxes would affect only those who STILL make $500K per year, not those laid off or whose bonuses shrank. If after these events, they still have a household income of $500K, they can find the money for additional taxes somewhere.
Face facts. The state is run by people who were elected.
Those who elect these people thus those elected believe that the private sector is good for just one thing, financing.
That's it. If you are a private business or individual tired of being the state piggy bank but otherwise treated with overt hostility the only answer is to simply leave the state.
Obviously the state is on a death spiral and within a generation will be completely empty of any private resources of any kind. California is somewhat further along the spiral as are most of the states in the Northeast but the bottom line is that until the state uses force or bribes business with taxpayer and union dollars to stick around for a while (as is currently the case with a certain E hartford employer) private enterprise will evaporate.
For all you state employees and those entities depending on tax dollars, enjoy. In a few years it all will be over. Including the retirement account.
They pull the same threat about leaf collection every year in West Hartford.
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