Can You Afford A 6.4% Tax Rate Increase?

Dannyboy April 23, 2012 at 11:15 am

Lets keep all the police departments, fire departments and heck why don't we add another highway department in say; Center Groton. Lets keep it going until Groton is bankrupt. Drastic action must be taken. Combine the departments this year.

Terry Connors April 23, 2012 at 12:29 pm

Time to combine

Moonshadow50 April 23, 2012 at 12:33 pm

I love how they lowered our house assessments, then want to hit us with a mill rate increase.

David Irons April 23, 2012 at 01:21 pm

Moonshadow50, the lower assessment and higher mil rate in and of themselves do not increase the total dollars you pay in taxes. The total budget determines that. If the assessment is reduced during revaluation, the mil rate has to increase just to collect the same dollar amount as before. As long as the budget does not increase, the total dollars you pay in taxes will not increase. In this case, as in most, the budget will increase. That, not the lower assessment and the higher mil rate to adjust for the assessment, is what will increase your total tax bill.

Dan Royce April 23, 2012 at 01:28 pm

Dave - good point on a short-term basis. However, governments don't give back what they've taken. Once the housing market bounces back an property values start climbing, this 6% increase is going to be hard for folks to handle and there is no guarantee (or any precedent) that they will do anything except keep our money. I would be happier if this was mandated as a temporary increase that will expire. Then they would have to justify continuing to keep the higher rate when the economy gets better.

Rick McDonald April 23, 2012 at 01:35 pm

Time to Secede

David Irons April 23, 2012 at 01:36 pm

Dan (former co-worker?) you do make a point. If voters/taxpayers do not keep on top of the situation, politicians will only continue to increase spending. That is why all towns have some type of forum where voters can have their say. Then and there is when voters need to tell the town leaders to not increase the budget.
Over the years, when the real estate market was flying high, there were many years in many towns when the mil rate decreased, even with budget increases. The amount of taxes paid increased but most didn't seem to notice because everyone seemed to be "fat and happy" for the most part.

Rick McDonald April 23, 2012 at 01:40 pm

I would guess that you and Dannyboy are Town residents since it is mainly Town residents who promote combining based on a false belief that Town resident taxes pay for City sevices. Check the tax records or ask the tas collector how much tax revenue is receive from the City and its residents

LegacyMom April 23, 2012 at 01:44 pm

Exactly, Dannyboy. There is no need at this point for City Police Dept, and Long Point Police Dept. No ill-intent meant to these services, I just don't see the validity of maintaining when business, and population are leaving the area. Our household income hasn't increased 6.4%. Prove the justification for increases.

Marie Tyler Wiley April 23, 2012 at 02:09 pm

Flat out cannot afford ANY increase!

augie42 April 23, 2012 at 02:27 pm

6.4% is a lot to swallow in these tough economic times. A more prudent rate would be in the 3% range. Raising taxes on anyone will hurt the local economy. Dan Royce brings up an excellent point about the housing prices turning around.
Groton is a big town (~ 40,000 people) and provides a lot of 'nice' things to the town and other areas. There are still some things that the RTM could cut to reduce the budget. For example(in CIP), $176K in sidewalks, $135K in parks/rec facility improvements, $25K in open space, and $50K to study Mystic Ed Ctnr....that $386K just off the top of my head. I could give you more.

Marie Tyler Wiley April 23, 2012 at 02:38 pm

Augie42...you have SUPER GREAT IDEAS! The only improvements to our facilities right now should be to maintain structures (I always wonder why the Parks and Rec bldg...a beautiful piece of our history is not kept in shape by a simple paint job. ...being proactive is fine with regards to stuff like that). But new sidewalks? forgettaboutit! Paying for a study? Paying someone to think is ridiculous. Try an on line survey to see if you come up with any grand ideas. Peeps like Augie42 have them!

augie42 April 23, 2012 at 05:16 pm

The way it is right now with the Town Managers' budget and the effects of the re-assessments, anyone who's assessment value that went down by 8% or more, will see their property taxes lowering, even with an increased mill rate. Any cuts by the TC or RTM will increase the number of people whose property taxes will lower.

D Paul April 23, 2012 at 08:35 pm

Very few residents can afford a tax increase of any kind. I myself surely cannot afford any increases in fees, taxes (state, local, or federal).
Real Estate Conveyance Tax increased! The state portion from .25% to .75% for residential properties under $800,000. If the property sells for more that $800,000, the seller will pay .75% for the first $800,000 and 1.25% on the portion over $800,000. It gets worse: Sellers currently pay .25% to the municipality an increase from .11% (I think). There are also targeted communities that are allowed to charge an additional .25%, bringing the total municipal real estate conveyance tax to .50%. These targeted communities include Groton.

Mary Lou Peck April 23, 2012 at 11:42 pm

It is far past time for taxpayers to demand from the Town Council the formation of a charter revision committee to amend the charter to give the taxpayers a vote on the budget. Until this happens the taxes will go nowhere but up! Send a message and call your Town Council members and demand action on their part. No one I know can afford any tax increases.

Marie Tyler Wiley April 24, 2012 at 01:42 am

Bravo Mary Lou...great idea!!!

Dannyboy April 24, 2012 at 10:56 am

Richard. I understand that most of the tax base, i.e. pfizer and electric boat, based on geographics, is in the City. It really doesn't matter because it is all within Groton. One police department and highway department makes sense for all. You wouldn't loose anything as far as service goes. There will still be police and fire and I say it will be a better combined force because you are not spreading resources over two agencies. It really makes a lot of sense. There is certainly no disrespect intended for the City of Groton highway or police departments. Both have very fine officer's and workers but combined there will be more ability for officers and workers to have better training, better upward mobility. The only reason why there is so many departments is because PFizer and EB were so big at one time that it actually worked. It is foolish now. Change brings change. That is the facts. Sorry I actually have property in the City and I don't live in the town Richard.

Rick McDonald April 24, 2012 at 12:45 pm

I disagree Dannyboy. The City budget is under 20 million while the Town budget is over 50 million. City budget covers sewage, garbage pickup, fire, 50 % of the City police budget, road clearing in the winter and numerous recreation and social services. What does the Town budget cover for Town residents? I know the Town does not provide garbage pickup. It has already been said by some in the Town government that it would cost more for the Town police to cover the City than the current City polict budget and I strongly belive we would lose our garbage pickup if the Town got to keep all tjhe City tax revenue.
Also by your last statement I take it you do not live in the City either, just own some property?

Rick McDonald April 24, 2012 at 12:49 pm

Oh, it is typically those who are not residents of the City of Groton that see any benefit to combining the Town and the City, in fact there would be benefit to non City residents but none to City residents. Three past studies all came to the same conclusion as far as benefit to the City, that conclusion was that the best option fof the City would be to secede. Why it has not I cannot fathom.