Kevin Sullivan On The Property Tax Burden

Published June 1, 2010 at 1:24 p.m.

"By any measure, Connecticut has one of the worst property tax burdens in the nation, routinely much higher than national average. With a state income tax that hits lower- and middle-income wage earners the hardest, over-reliance on property taxes adds immensely to the overall unfairness of tax burdens in our state. Property taxes perversely undercut "smart growth," drive expensive sprawl and foment no-win competition for development among cities and towns." - Kevin Sullivan

Kevin Sullivan, Former CT Lt. Governor and current vociferous critic of the West Hartford Taxpayers Association, wrote an editorial this past January which, certainly applies to our own town government. He apparently should re-read it in earnest.

It's easier to argue for sacrifice when it's not just everyone else's pain. Cut from the top. Reduce administrative costs, cut layers of political appointees, roll back top salaries, cut perks and consolidate agencies and services. We don't need nearly 200 agencies, boards and commissions along with all the commissioners, deputy commissioners, assistants and directors. Local governments and school districts also need incentives or even mandates to consolidate services.

Next, cut from the bottom. Eliminate or suspend programs, services and tax breaks that do not have a general public benefit or show no substantial return on investment. Millions of dollars are buried deep in the budget and state tax code...

Raise taxes last, if at all. Taxes take money from consumers and investors, who prime economic recovery. Higher taxes and fees or higher local taxes (for costs passed along by the state) always fall unfairly on middle- and lower-income families.
If any tax increase is needed, be sure it's fair in terms of ability to pay. And for every dollar raised in taxes there should be a dollar cut in state spending.

Then, make sure the savings and revenues are real. Don't count on some other level of government to fix it (hoped-for bailouts) or eat it (more burdens on local property taxpayers). Don't pay for today's problems with tomorrow's dollars through gimmicks like early retirement that cost more over time. Tap the rainy day fund and, with interest rates low, some deficit financing makes sense.

Connecticut's structural budget crisis is not going away soon. Even when revenues recover, the deficit will remain and the gap will have grown.

...And we, the people, should demand results and then support those who step up to make hard choices.

Perhaps we should take his sage advice.
The again, the Former Lt. Governor should really listen to his own words before going off and saying another increase in our Town taxes is now justified because Kiplinger "hearts" West Hartford.

Cut from the top, cut from the bottom and raise taxes LAST, if at all.

For every dollar raised in taxes there should be a dollar cut in spending, etc. etc. etc.

Hey Kevin...those were your words...but maybe you really didn't mean them after all.


So where exactly ARE the Board of Education's spending cuts?
(Silly taxpayers...they are the Board of Education, they don't have to make any real reductions)



Post Script: Based on some of the more recent web reviews (from 2009) of his Children's Museum which he has headed since 2007 - maybe Mr. Sullivan ought to keep his focus there instead of weighing in on other issues...Just a thought.


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