Berlin Repubs want to Trash the Condo Refuse Rebate

In his Opinion column in the March 20 Berlin Citizen, Town Councilor David Evans indicated a desire by the Republicans on the Council to reduce or eliminate the budgeted amount for rebates to condo owners that partially offsets privately paid trash and recycling costs. He cites the total budgeted amount and implies that the recently enacted ordinance change (extending the rebate to all condos) that was adopted unanimously by the Council is costly and unsustainable and is the first item that he would like to see cut from the budget if the budget does not pass at referendum.   I would like to point out that of the budgeted $156,000 for condo refuse rebates,  $60K at most is attributable to newly eligible condos, and the remaining $96,000 (roughly) represents continuation of annual rebates that have been in effect and paid since 1998 to only 6 of the existing condo communities in town. Contrary to his opinion that reducing taxes for all is more important than subsidizing trash collection costs for condo owners, I would submit that is unfair that the town pay for the cost of trash collection for all residential homeowners except for condo owners.

I applaud the goal of minimizing tax increases. I attended one of the budget meetings for almost 3 hours and from my observations I feel that the Council did a diligent and laudable job in controlling budgeted expenditures. The projected 1.1% mill rate increase is significantly less than any increase in the last four years.

I encourage all Berlin citizens to vote in favor of the proposed budget at the April 29 referendum.  Those who are interested in gaining a greater insight into the budget should attend the public hearing on April 8, starting at 7:00 p.m. at the McGee Middle School.