"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)
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"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) |
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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
I hope you enjoy this new issue of "The Taxpayer's Perspective" - our effort to keep you informed of issues relating to taxation and local government.
Those who advocate ever higher taxes would prefer to avoid the truth that we are more burdened by taxes today than at any peacetime period in history. They also would prefer to cast the debate in emotional terms - as a recent commercial states: "We're for the children. Which side are you on?"
Notice how this attitude preempts rational debate with a rather nasty package deal. If you are against higher taxes, you must be against children, against education, against teachers. You must be for squalor, ignorance, and... worst of all - you must be selfish.
Of course, all of this is nonsense, and those of us who oppose the continual growth of the maw of government know it well. But our challenge is to strike back against this means of forestalling debate by making clear, focused arguments for the right of wage-earners to keep and use what they work so hard to obtain.
Currently, Windsor faces many challenges. Our new Superintendent, as might have been easily predicted from his history and opinions, seeks ever larger spending to cover the failure of the schools under his control to successfully handle core education. The Windsor High School Renovation project has become a project nearly four times its original estimated size - and not only we, but our children, will be paying for this over the space of decades. A new Town Manager whose sympathy for the burden of taxation is unknown will be taking the helm, and steering us... somewhere - probably somewhere more expensive. And, perhaps of the greatest concern, a new revaluation of residential property is beginning. The impact on the value of your property and the burden of property taxes? Unknown.
Every day you face economic choices. When you go to the store - can you afford this steak, that roast, that breakfast? When you're car has a breakdown, can you afford the right parts, or is the cost so high you must purchase a new vehicle? When your child is on the threshold of independence, can you afford to help? If your husband is ill and needs and expensive treatment, can you afford to pay? Can you afford not to?
As you can see, these are moral choices, as well.
Taxation has an effect on every one of these choices. Sure, it's only fifty dollars more here, a hundred dollars more there, a thousand dollars more elsewhere. But each time government takes more of your income, they shrink the range of positive answers you can supply to the question "can I afford it?"
And after a certain point, there is nothing to say but "No. I an forced to educate the children of others, to buy computers and internet service for rural areas where I do not live, to pay for mass transit I do not ride, to give subsidies to businesses for which I do not work and whose products I do not buy... and there is nothing left. Therefore, my child will not attend college. I will not be able to save for my retirement. I cannot afford to help my sick wife. I cannot keep my house."
Of course, that point is different for everyone. But the advocates of increased taxes would prefer never to admit that the burden of responsibility for these sad decisions lies with them. In fact, they would prefer never to admit that there is a role played by taxes in making life harder for anyone.
But Americans, on average, will have to work 130 days of the year to pay the burden placed on them by government. That's right - from January 1 until May 10 every American is working to pay taxes. Not to buy food, clothing, shelter, or entertainment, but just to pay taxes. In 1998, residents of Connecticut faced the highest tax burden in the nation, working 145 days to pay taxes. Imagine what would be possible if that number were only 70 days. It's not impossible for government to function with that money if what it does is to preserve our rights and retaliate against criminals who violate those rights, rather than try to be a one stop shop for every social desire.
As concerned taxpayers, we have much to do. Educating the economically ignorant, getting information on where waste and excessive spending is in progress, keeping abreast of the latest developments in local, state and federal government. Look for us to help you.
We're keeping an eye on reval. Look for information on the effects of revaluation in our neighboring towns in an upcoming newsletter.
The Sage Park roof is going to need some expensive fixes, even as work gets underway on the enhancements to Windsor High. We'll let you know how much, when, and why.
We're considering a variety of initiatives and awards, and we'd like you to come to our public meeting (coming April 27th VFW Hall Windsor Center, 7PM) to tell us what you think, and to give us some good ideas...
A petition to reject binding arbitration.
A petition to require a two-thirds supermajority to raise taxes or issue bonds.
A petition to have all bond issues and budget issues put to the vote on the same date. Also to require the full amount of the bond - including interest over its period - to be included.
A petition to split the listing of the town and education budget into two separate referendum issues.
A petition for a charter change to disallow government employees and their spouses from being elected to office.
A petition for within-town elementary school vouchers.
A petition requiring a percentage of the salary account be spent to reward teacher merit.
A petition requiring basic skills testing for teachers (a majority of teachers in Massachusetts failed such a test).
A petition for an ordinance or charter change to ban advertising by the town - why force us to pay for propaganda to convince us to allow them to tax us more.
A special award for the politician who most obviously abandons fiscal responsibility in the name of "bipartisanship" in any specific year.
A special award for the politician who invokes "our children" most often in any given year.
A special award for the politician who campaigns on reducing taxes and then proceeds to go back on their word as a result of pressure from public employees or fellow politicians.
CTW Public Meeting scheduled for April 27, 1999, VFW Hall, Windsor Center, 7PM. Come on over and share your ideas with us!
According to the Tax Foundation, you will work at least 145 days to pay your taxes.
Ralph Nader joined with others who opposed Governor Rowland's big tax overcharge giveaway to The New England Patriots. Petition efforts to block this special interest giveaway have started.
The "National Access Contribution" on your long distance bill is a new tax. Thanks to Congress you now are forced to pay to help others get computers and internet access.
Content and Layout Copyright 1999 by Concerned Taxpayers of Windsor