Politics In The Tax Bill

(The Bee has received for publication the following letter to First Selectman Herb Rosenthal.)

Dear Mr Rosenthal:

I received your communication in the July property tax bills which were mailed to all the taxpayers who own property in Newtown. In your message, you indicate that: “Connecticut is overly dependent on property taxes for providing municipal services. In fact, studies show that we are the most property tax dependent state in the country for funding education. Please let your voices be heard to the following State Leaders that we need property tax relief and reform.”

I think it’s fine if you want to communicate some of the circumstances surrounding the budget specifics which have influenced the tax bills in any given year. But this message goes well beyond that and mixes the administration function of government (collecting the taxes) with the political aspects of government. Clearly, “overly dependent” is an expression of a political viewpoint. And using a property tax bill to exhort taxpayers to contact their state representatives seems to me to be a clearly inappropriate use of taxpayer funds. In fact, I wonder as to its legality. If it’s okay to have the head of government recommending a course of political action in a tax bill, what’s next? “Vote for me next November”?

While we’re sharing views regarding property taxes, here’s mine: whether the money is routed through the Town of Newtown or through the State of Connecticut, I’m still paying it. Sending money to the State of Connecticut so they can in turn send it back to Newtown seems to make little sense, since we can be sure that a dollar sent will be less than a dollar once returned. I prefer to keep it right here. I think “property tax relief and reform” is code for a shell game of moving tax dollars around; there is no money at the state level or the federal level that didn’t come from me, or my neighbors, first.

Sincerely,

Scott A. Reiss

42 Obtuse Road, Newtown                                          August 3, 2003