House of Representatives delivers on key proposals to help towns and property taxpayers
April 30, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities today, April 30, expressed its gratitude to the leaders of the State House of Representatives for passing much-needed mandates relief, local revenue diversity, and help in stemming health insurance increases.
The House voted late last night on a package of “municipal-relief” bills stemming from the recommendations of Speaker Christopher Donovan’s Municipal Opportunities and Regional Efficiencies (MORE) Commission. The series of legislative proposals will provide much-needed assistance to local governments during these tough economic times. The proposals that passed include:
HB 5483 – which would diversify municipal revenue by increasing the state hotel tax by 3% and distributing the additional revenue (a) 1/3 to the host municipality, and (b) 2/3 to the host Regional Planning organization for property tax relief and regional efforts;
HB 5255 – which would provide mandates relief by (a) relieving municipalities of the requirement to collect and transport the possessions of evicted tenants [but retaining responsibility for storage], and (b) moving to municipalities the assessment and taxation of wireless telecommunications property (property less than 5 years old would move 10/1/10, older is phased in); and
HB 5424 – which would clarify that municipalities and boards of education can pool together for the purchase of health insurance.
Jim Finley, CCM Executive Director and CEO said, “The legislation passed last night by the House of Representatives, due in large part to the efforts of Speaker Chris Donovan and State Representative Brendan Sharkey, will provide mandates relief for towns and cities, ensure new local revenue options, and provide news tools to stem the large annual increases in health insurance costs faced by local government.”
“Local budgets are stretched thin, services are being cut, employees are being laid off, and property taxes are going up,” said Finley. “And the next two years promise to be worse. These proposals are critical to the fiscal health of towns and cities. It is imperative that state senators carry these reforms across the finish-line.”
“We thank the Speaker, Representative Sharkey and state legislators from both sides of the aisle for their leadership,” noted Finley.
Source: CCM
