South Windsor Board Backs Tax Break Plan

The town council Monday night embraced Democrat Kathy Hale's proposal to expand the number of people who will qualify for a property tax break.

[Maureen]

Tax increase? I thought that there was a freeze on tax increases and the Republican campaign was "Stop Runaway Spending"? How can you say you will stop runaway spending when you want to spend money on artificial turf, but now you need to look at cutting items from the budget? A 5 percent increase is totally insane. Vernon had an increase of just of 3 percent and our council wants to propose a 5 percent. Cut out the artificial turf, cut out the old post office and let's stop painting wooden flowers and placing them on Buckland Road.

[sue]

Huge tax increases. Spend Spend Spend. Nothing getting done. Town Council is out of control.

and what happens - Prague and Hale pull a bait and switch on our senior citizens. Give about a dozen seniors a $195 tax break - increase spending by $5 million - then raise taxes to take back the $195. Nice move. Maybe nobody will notice.

[Taxaholics]

Maureen wrote:

Tax increase? I thought that there was a freeze on tax increases and the Republican campaign was "Stop Runaway Spending"? How can you say you will stop runaway spending when you want to spend money on artificial turf, but now you need to look at cutting items from the budget? A 5 percent increase is totally insane. Vernon had an increase of just of 3 percent and our council wants to propose a 5 percent. Cut out the artificial turf, cut out the old post office and let's stop painting wooden flowers and placing them on Buckland Road.

Tolland just rejected a 0% tax rate - the citizens, themselves vote on the budget - as a reaction to out of control spending on the High School.

Maybe we need to change our charter.

[Maureen]

Taxaholics wrote:

<quoted text>
Tolland just rejected a 0% tax rate - the citizens, themselves vote on the budget - as a reaction to out of control spending on the High School.
Maybe we need to change our charter.

- Yes, we do need to change our Charter. All someone has to do is get a petition together with over 3,000 signatures (all registered voters in SW) to get it started. The over 3,000 is a percentage of the number of registered voters in town. Why would anyone reject a 0% increase? Are you sure it was ZERO?

[Taxaholics]

Maureen wrote:

<quoted text> - Yes, we do need to change our Charter. All someone has to do is get a petition together with over 3,000 signatures (all registered voters in SW) to get it started. The over 3,000 is a percentage of the number of registered voters in town. Why would anyone reject a 0% increase? Are you sure it was ZERO?

I believe I have it correct.

Their rate and burden increased so much over the money spent on the school that the residents are looking for a tax cut.

The cut would still put them at a significantly higher level than several years ago.

Figures lie and liers figure. You can do wonders with percent increase approaches.

[Taxaholics]

Get a load of this.....smarter folks in Enfield, apparently.

"Fermi field holding up well; Enfield High field work progressing
By Kristen J. Tsetsi
Journal Inquirer
Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:12 AM EDT
ENFIELD — As the new Fermi athletic field moves into its first full season of use, things are “going along very well,” said fields project building committee Chairman Daniel O’Connell.

And the renovation of Enfield High School’s athletic field is progressing according to schedule, O’Connell said.

“The contractor started earlier than anticipated,” O’Connell said Tuesday.“The weather has been kind.”

Completed tasks include subsoil work, drainage, and foundations for bleachers, flagpoles, and goal posts, all things O’Connell said must be done, and done well, before other projects can begin.

Enfield’s athletic field is due for completion by the end of August.

O’Connell, who coaches track at Fermi, also expressed satisfaction with the performance of the field, which sees regular use not only from track students, but baseball and softball teams, as well.

Fermi’s fields haven’t been without some minor problems, however.

Baseballs keep flying over the left field wall and onto the softball field, O’Connell said. But he expects a net to be installed “very soon.”

Another first-time issue plaguing the field is this season’s warm, dry weather. The playing surface can get hot in the sun, and facility managers would typically wet it down to cool it off. Water, which wasn’t scheduled to be turned on until next week, was turned on early to solve the problem, O’Connell said.

Another issue, broached during a Board of Education meeting by member Joyce P. Hall, is the development of rules for field use.

Board Chairman Andre Greco, a member of the facilities use committee, said 14 to 15 posted guidelines include such regulations as not throwing sports drinks on the field, what shoes are appropriate to wear, when to use the facility, and when not to.

School Superintendent John Gallacher pointed out to the board that one of the rules prohibits golf club use on the field, but physical education classes are using the field for their golf unit.

“We should be modeling what we’re asking the public to do,” he said.

As for scheduled use of the fields, Greco said the facilities use committee plans to have an online system soon that will provide an athletic schedule at the beginning of every season, with school teams given priority use of the facility.

If outside groups are interested in using it, they’ll be required to register on the town Web site with an organization name, the requested date and time of use, and an intended purpose.

“If it’s an event that has X amount of people and police are required, the software figures that out” and generates a cost, then asks for credit card information and holds the reservation while approval is requested, he said. Once the date and time is approved, an e-mail will be sent to the individual.

“We’re trying to do this not only with the stadiums, but with all the other venues throughout town,” including swimming pools, parks, gymnasiums, and other community centers, Greco said.""

[Hadit]

Taxaholics wrote:

<quoted text>
Tolland just rejected a 0% tax rate - the citizens, themselves vote on the budget - as a reaction to out of control spending on the High School.
Maybe we need to change our charter.

Yes, we need to change our Town Charter before it is to late? lets get signatures or what ever it will take to change our Town Charter, lets get going on this subject and get our Town back in control! Our neighbor hood is ready and will help out getting signatures!
No more talking! lets get this done

[Hadit]

Taxaholics wrote:

Get a load of this.....smarter folks in Enfield, apparently.
"Fermi field holding up well; Enfield High field work progressing
By Kristen J. Tsetsi
Journal Inquirer
Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:12 AM EDT
ENFIELD — As the new Fermi athletic field moves into its first full season of use, things are “going along very well,” said fields project building committee Chairman Daniel O’Connell.
And the renovation of Enfield High School’s athletic field is progressing according to schedule, O’Connell said.
“The contractor started earlier than anticipated,” O’Connell said Tuesday.“The weather has been kind.”
Completed tasks include subsoil work, drainage, and foundations for bleachers, flagpoles, and goal posts, all things O’Connell said must be done, and done well, before other projects can begin.
Enfield’s athletic field is due for completion by the end of August.
O’Connell, who coaches track at Fermi, also expressed satisfaction with the performance of the field, which sees regular use not only from track students, but baseball and softball teams, as well.
Fermi’s fields haven’t been without some minor problems, however.
Baseballs keep flying over the left field wall and onto the softball field, O’Connell said. But he expects a net to be installed “very soon.”
Another first-time issue plaguing the field is this season’s warm, dry weather. The playing surface can get hot in the sun, and facility managers would typically wet it down to cool it off. Water, which wasn’t scheduled to be turned on until next week, was turned on early to solve the problem, O’Connell said.
Another issue, broached during a Board of Education meeting by member Joyce P. Hall, is the development of rules for field use.
Board Chairman Andre Greco, a member of the facilities use committee, said 14 to 15 posted guidelines include such regulations as not throwing sports drinks on the field, what shoes are appropriate to wear, when to use the facility, and when not to.
School Superintendent John Gallacher pointed out to the board that one of the rules prohibits golf club use on the field, but physical education classes are using the field for their golf unit.
“We should be modeling what we’re asking the public to do,” he said.
As for scheduled use of the fields, Greco said the facilities use committee plans to have an online system soon that will provide an athletic schedule at the beginning of every season, with school teams given priority use of the facility.
If outside groups are interested in using it, they’ll be required to register on the town Web site with an organization name, the requested date and time of use, and an intended purpose.
“If it’s an event that has X amount of people and police are required, the software figures that out” and generates a cost, then asks for credit card information and holds the reservation while approval is requested, he said. Once the date and time is approved, an e-mail will be sent to the individual.
“We’re trying to do this not only with the stadiums, but with all the other venues throughout town,” including swimming pools, parks, gymnasiums, and other community centers, Greco said.""

Why can't South Windsor do the same thing? we all are learning how screw up our Town has become with bad management! Also, Enfield Taxes are much lower than South Windsor? How is that, we all know why? Time to change Town Charter! bring back common sense, back to South Windsor. it has been provenly, time after time that our Town Government can not handle common sense!

[Hadit]

Maureen wrote:

<quoted text> - Yes, we do need to change our Charter. All someone has to do is get a petition together with over 3,000 signatures (all registered voters in SW) to get it started The over 3,000 is a percentage of the number of registered voters in town. Why would anyone reject a 0% increase? Are you sure it was ZERO?

"Maureen"if we need to get 3,000 registered voters signatures? like I said our neighbor hood will help! what steps do we take to get this done! let us know?

[swnews]

Hadit wrote:

<quoted text>"Maureen"if we need to get 3,000 registered voters signatures? like I said our neighbor hood will help! what steps do we take to get this done! let us know?

If you can pack the next Town Council meeting, I'm talking here about filling the room so full that people are spilling out into the hallway, believe me, the "powers that be" will notice you all very, very quickly.

They will be talking about the budget almost exclusively at the next meeting, so if you are unhappy with all the spending, that is the time to go.

[Weeping Willows]

swnews wrote:

<quoted text>
If you can pack the next Town Council meeting, I'm talking here about filling the room so full that people are spilling out into the hallway, believe me, the "powers that be" will notice you all very, very quickly.
They will be talking about the budget almost exclusively at the next meeting, so if you are unhappy with all the spending, that is the time to go.

A show of force is always effective. Just look what impact a handfull of people had on the TC in terms of the artificial athletic fields.

These guys have no backbone and they tend to wilt under examination.

This being said, a qualifying petition to change the town charter WILL REALLY GET THEIR ATTENTION.

If not, just let them pay the price.

[Hadit]

swnews wrote:

<quoted text>
If you can pack the next Town Council meeting, I'm talking here about filling the room so full that people are spilling out into the hallway, believe me, the "powers that be" will notice you all very, very quickly.
They will be talking about the budget almost exclusively at the next meeting, so if you are unhappy with all the spending, that is the time to go.

The way I see it, is to get as many signatures and present that to the TC. to pack Town Hall won,t Help us down the road, don,t you agree? The Town Charter has to change and put a end to all this miss management of our Town!

[Maureen]

Taxaholics wrote:

<quoted text>
I believe I have it correct.
Their rate and burden increased so much over the money spent on the school that the residents are looking for a tax cut.
The cut would still put them at a significantly higher level than several years ago.
Figures lie and liers figure. You can do wonders with percent increase approaches.

- You appear to have it wrong. The budget for Tollad was approved Tuesday. So what town are you actually thinking of? The budget approved by Tolland was a 3.95% increase. You may want to do more research on that. Agree with changing the charter, but all there is to it is to get one started. Go around and get signatures from registered SW voters. I believe it is 10% of the registered voters in town that you need. The town clerks office can tell you offically the total needed.