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Negligible Cuts

Thankfully, voters by a narrow margin defeated the town budget on May 24. This was the second defeat. Yet the Board of Finance (BOF) decided to reduce the budget by a mere $30,000 or just or 0.17 percent, sending it back to referendum on June 7.

If Clinton’s budget passes on June 7, it will produce an approximate 29.83 mill rate, up about 9.9 percent. So far only three neighboring towns have set their mill rates. The biggest increase is Westbook with a 5.3 percent increase to 24.37 mills. Madison increased 3.1 percent to 27.30 mills and Old Saybrook increased 2.1 percent to 19.66 mills.

Clinton taxpayers must say “No” to this unbearable increase for yet a third time on June 7. Such a large increase on top of already comparatively high tax rate is extremely destructive. High property taxes depress property values, discourage commercial development, and take a disproportionally larger share of poor and middle-income families’ incomes.

Since the education budget passed, more than half of the “vote Yes” constituency is likely to stay home on June 7. Also, many more of the summer-resident taxpayers will be back in Clinton, so the chances of defeating this budget a third time are greatly improved.

If the 1,631 voters who said “No” on May 24 say “No” again on June 7, the BOF will at last get the message that a 9.9 percent tax increase is unacceptable. Passing cuts in state aid unabated to Clinton taxpayers is unfair. Taking food and clothing from struggling families, many of which are already living on the edge, is immoral.

Don’t let them wear us down with negligible cuts to a monumental tax increase. I encourage your readers to vote “No” June 7. A $30,000 cut is an insult, regardless of how narrow the defeat!

Kirk Carr

Clinton