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10/18/2017 08:00 AMLowering taxes in Clinton is imperative. Once all the agencies dependent on taxpayer funds understand this, the task of cost-cutting can begin fairly, equitably, and humanely. It must not come at the price of reduced public services or degraded education. Clinton must do more with less.
Since 2010, property taxes in Clinton have increased 24 percent and the mill rate increased 37 percent. The town budget increased 31 percent and the education budget increased 14 percent.
Since 2010, school enrollment dropped 14 percent, population decreased 0.7 percent, and median household incomes declined 3.7 percent.
The divergence of these trends between spending and tax increases simultaneous to demographic and commercial deterioration is unsustainable.
An uncompetitively high mill rate and escalating property taxes are destructive and inhumane. Property taxes are the second-most regressive tax paid by Connecticut taxpayers, falling disproportionately on poor, middle-income, and fixed-income households. They discourage commercial development and depress the value of most families’ biggest investment, their homes.
Young families cannot afford these taxes. Parents trying to save for college and retirement are hard-pressed. Seniors who have paid local taxes for decades discover living here is unaffordable, but cannot get fair value for homes.
Escalating property taxes depress property values, producing a vicious negative cycle. Breaking this cycle is essential for Clinton’s fiscal sustainability. The sooner Clinton adjusts, the less severe the consequences.
Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t—you’re right.”
Those who lack the imagination to think otherwise claim that promising lower taxes is irresponsible only because they lack the capacity to conceive of it.
This letter explains why Clinton must lower taxes. In two weeks, I will explain how.
Kirk Carr
Clinton
Kirk Carr is the Republican candidate for first selectman.