"Total tax collections in the U.S. are expected to be $2,667,000,000,000 in 1998. This represents 35.4% of the country's total income. In comparison, medieval serfs paid an effective tax rate of 33.3 percent." (Source: Just Facts)
|
"Total tax collections in the U.S. are expected to be $2,667,000,000,000 in 1998. This represents 35.4% of the country's total income. In comparison, medieval serfs paid an effective tax rate of 33.3 percent." (Source: Just Facts) |
|---|
Dedicated to the wise use of local tax dollars
Index, Newsletter, Newsmedia, Press Releases, Letters To The Editor, Myths About Us, Myths About The Budget, Highlights Of The Current Budget, Contact Us
$35,000,000 for renovation and enhancement of the high school. Includes $2.1 million for architectural work, including the design of "a more welcoming entryway". This started as a $9 million project to bring the building up to code, became a $24 million project to "enhance" and ended at $35 million. It will probably cost more by the time it is completed.
$1.05 million roof replacement at Sage Park Middle School; a $175,000 plan to install backflow prevention valves to the sprinkler systems at seven school buildings and the L.P. Wilson Community Center, and a $600,000 two-bay firehouse on Rainbow Road.
Education budget - $39 million - increase nearly 6%. Does not include $3.5 million from Town to Board as Town Support for Education.
Town Budget - $22 million - increase 2.4%.
Total budget - General fund $61 million - increase nearly 6%; total $73 million.
Debt in fiscal 2000 (including WHS) - $34,000,000 (excluded 46% expected reimbursement from the state). Debt limit $43,000,000. Prior to this, debt was $25,000,000, so debt has increased by 27%. Current debt payments are $4 million with interest payments of nearly $2 million. Town is within 19% of maximum allowed debt.
Town claims a 3.6% mill rate increase will pay for general fund budget, but don't discuss taxes needed to pay for the increase in debt service or any increases in other areas (such as Capital Budget or Insurance).
$1.13 million to redesign Mack Street in fiscal 2000...
$1.79 million to redesign Prospect Hill Road... [how about just fixing these streets, rather than "redesigning" them - wouldn't it be cheaper?, ed.]
$1.44 million to enhance the Route 159 corridor in fiscal year 2002... [what is "enhancing"? ed.]
$3.7 million public safety radio system [2003]... [are they sending radio messages to Mars? At this price they should be able to. Let's see, 50 police, say 20 other public safety vehicles, equals roughly $52,000 each, ed.]
$2.74 million River Street reconstruction are slated for fiscal year 2003...
$5.68 million addition to the main library in fiscal year 2004 [we could "redesign" three streets for this price - how about using bookstores to get books instead?, ed.]...
$4.5 million for construction of central athletic fields... [why do we need these? Don't people get enough exercise at the gym and the extensive school athletic fields?, ed.]
$1.15 million installing underground utilities in center of town in fiscal year 2005... [and the benefit is? ed.]
[total - $22.13 million over the next 6 years, or $3.6 million in additional spending each year, ed.]
Content and Layout Copyright 1999 by Concerned Taxpayers of Windsor