To the editor: I hear that it is important to have vision when planning for the future. I also hear that leadership requires such vision. But whose vision should be represented in such a fashion? Should the vision for your city’s future be determined by the members of the community or a state bureaucracy? With senate bill 1, “An Act Concerning Tax Fairness and Economic Development”, municipal automobile taxes are replaced by state Senator Martin Looney’s new proposal. It establishes a regional automobile tax with an average mill rate of cities within the regional planning district. In this scenario, residents of municipalities with low mill rates would find their automobile taxes higher in the name of “fairness.” Under the proposal, a portion of your car taxes and the tax revenue generated in Bristol’s downtown redevelopment would go to the regional governments. They would then reinvest or share any increased tax revenue generated with the other 18 member towns in the district. Some state legislators have referred to the measure as the reinstatement of county government. The state’s Office of Policy and Management has designated Bristol as a regional center. Regional projects are coordinated and proceeded upon by a vote of […]
To the editor: I hear that it is important to have vision when planning for the future. I also hear that leadership requires such vision. But whose vision should be represented in such a fashion? Should the vision for your city’s future be determined by the members of the community or a state bureaucracy? With senate bill 1, “An Act Concerning Tax Fairness and Economic Development”, municipal automobile taxes are replaced by state Senator Martin Looney’s new proposal. It establishes a regional automobile tax with an average mill rate of cities within the regional planning district. In this scenario, residents of municipalities with low mill rates would find their automobile taxes higher in the name of “fairness.” Under the proposal, a portion of your car taxes and the tax revenue generated in Bristol’s downtown redevelopment would go to the regional governments. They would then reinvest or share any increased tax revenue generated with the other 18 member towns in the district. Some state legislators have referred to the measure as the reinstatement of county government. The state’s Office of Policy and Management has designated Bristol as a regional center. Regional projects are coordinated and proceeded upon by a vote of […]