Democratic platform omits controlling taxes in flyer

I just received a flyer in the mail bulleting the platform of the Berlin Democrats running for Town Council.  It mentions more money to be spent on schools, more money to be spent on infrastructure, and more money to be spent on providing support for our local businesses.  However, there is no mention about controlling spending and taxes.  I am somewhat surprised given the current condition of our economy and the difficulties citizens are having paying their bills.

On the flyer the Democratic Party congratulates itself for legislating the provision for all-day kindergarten classes, necessitating the hiring of at least an additional six to eight teachers.  But can Berlin continue this additional spending when citizens are losing jobs and having difficulty paying their mortgages and taxes?

Also there is mention on the flyer of redeveloping blighted buildings.  Does this mean more buyouts of Depot Crossings at taxpayers expense?  Do taxpayers have to support businesses by paying higher taxes instead of these properties being seized for back taxes and auctioned to developers or compelled by our Town's ordinances to renovate their properties?

And how many millions will it cost for the new Berlin Police Station?  The Berlin High School renovation cost is already budgeted to cost nearly $85 million, but it will far exceed that amount once it is completed.  And there are plans to renovate the Town Hall.  Millions and millions of dollars will be spent.  Is this the course we should be staying, spending millions and millions of dollars of taxpayers monies?  Our taxes will skyrocket over the coming years.  There is no free lunch; someone has to pay all of these bills.  Will you be able to pay two or three times the amount in property taxes that you pay now?

I am not registered as a Republican or as a Democrat so I am not attacking this flyer because of any party affiliation.  I will vote on the policies endorsed by individual candidates.  I am writing this blog solely in an effort to stress the necessity of controlling governmental spending in order to keep our property taxes down.

We can issue only so many bonds before the day of reckoning occurs.  When our debt continues to increase, so will our interest payments and our taxes.

It's time to control spending and live within our means.  Detroit is on the verge of bankruptcy.  So are other municipalities even in Connecticut:  does Bridgeport ring a bell?  The past 10 years our Town budget increased 50% from $51 million to $76 million, while median household income increased about half of that rate of increase.  We cannot afford to "stay the course" of an open checkbook.  The time to do something is now.

Please vote to control spending on election day unless you do not care if your Mill Rate increases to 74.29, like that in Hartford, and your taxes triple in amount.  Will you be able to pay $15,000 per year in property taxes every year?  If you lived in Hartford, you might be paying that amount now!

Cast your vote "no" to additional spending and higher taxes.  Vote for candidates who promise to cut spending and taxes, not stay the course and increase spending and taxes.

William Brighenti, CPA