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Health & Fitness

Tax Relief Program

My comments at the Public Hearing on Tax Relief

Tax Relief Program

As a Senior Citizen and a resident in Simsbury over 45 years, I would like express my concern about giving tax credits to qualifying incomes up to $49,500 without determining the definition of income.  How does the town define income? There is earned income, adjusted gross income and taxable income. Which income is qualifying for tax relief?  Many people, with a good tax attorney can shelter income and then qualify for these reductions. Many residents, including employees of this town have salaries within the range that qualifies for a tax reduction and are told that there is no money for raises. Each time this board gives credits to residents, businesses, lawyered   up high end homeowners who challenge their assessments, Simsbury taxpayers have to make up the difference. Many of those residents are living within their means with these qualifying salaries without reductions from the town.  The gloom and doom with Hartford Life in serious financial difficulty with a triple B minus rating from Standard and Poor rating agency is of concern. The Hartford will be asking for a reduction from their taxes, leaving a huge gap in revenues. Presently we are asking our employees in negotiations with the Town to take less with the same qualifying incomes, does not bode well for negotiations.  How can anyone negotiate in good faith when this board votes to reduce town revenues?   This trend of pandering for votes to give away tax revenues to a select group should not be encouraged. What should be done is lowering the expenditures of the town and reducing long term debt and vote no on the Ethel Walker property.. The truly needy are taken care through Social Services. The Qualifying Income is too high and I would urge this board to reject this Amendment to the Code of Ordinances.

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