NORWICH – City residents turned out to a special meeting of the Common Council Tuesday night with a plea that leaders take additional measures to lower the proposed 9.84 percent tax rate increase for the 2013 fiscal year.
The proposed city budget calls for a property tax rate of $20.76 per $1,000, which is a $1.86 increase over 2012. Raising the tax rate is action justified by the City Department of Finance to offset skyrocketing pension costs in recent years and necessary in sustaining vital services for residents; but also an increase that calls for a local law to override the state-imposed 2 percent tax rate levy for the second consecutive year.
Residents had the chance to voice their opinions last night, many of them upset about the rate increase and the timing in which they were notified. Public suggestions to lower the taxes ranged from consolidation of city services and increased charges of said services for contracting townships, to more utilization of volunteers for the city’s fire department.
City Mayor Joseph Maiurano was absent during the public hearing to advocate for mandate relief and other viable solutions for stressed municipalities at a conference in Albany, according to city officials.
Wake Street resident Jeff Thornton addressed the council with a request that they work harder to minimize the proposed tax rate and ensure similar rates aren’t called for again next year.
“Is there any strategic plan to not have to override this 2 percent tax levy as we move forward?” Thornton asked the council. “I don’t think there’s any doubt that we love where we live ... I’m not here to offer you suggestions. I’m not here to tell you what a palatable increase is; but it’s your job to make it realistic,” he said. “Please, do your due diligence to the community.”
Local business owner Missy Hayes asked that the council consider other methods to generate revenue instead of “putting it on the backs of taxpayers.” Her inquiry was retorted by Alderman Terry Bresina, who assured her that other avenues to generate income are “difficult to control.”
“A bulk of the expenses are related to employee pension,” Bresina explained. “If we try to reduce it any further, the things you’re accustomed to may not get done ... We have to do the things we do and my suspicion is that we would get a lot more complaints if we didn’t do it.”
Hayes’ sentiment was echoed by Adam Bosworth and Mike Hayes, owners and operators of Hayworth Companies, a property management firm with several properties within city limits.
“This is a lot to bear,” said Bosworth. “It’s a lot for taxpayers to digest in a short time. We can’t handle a 10 percent increase every year. It’s not realistic and I want to know, is there any way we can guarantee this won’t happen again next year?” he went on. “There’s always other options and I think we need to address them.”
“Every year, pensions are consuming a large proportion of the city’s budget,” city resident Joseph Biviano said to the council. “There is no mandate relief coming from Albany. Consolidation talks with the towns have proven to be futile ... You must find your own solutions. We must consolidate within ourselves, be efficient and improve our city.”
The Common Council will not take a final vote on the budget until its next regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m., Dec. 18 at City Court.