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Community Corner

Buffer the mill rate, then we can vote yes

After several failures of the town government to listen to the will of the people, Bethel's budget proposal is finally in line with inflation. This will cause about a 2 percent increase (+ 0.62) in the tax (mill) rate.

At the most recent town meeting we were told, in answer to a question I asked, that only a draw of $450,000 from the town's "fund balance" would keep the mill rate at 31.5. That was bad information, the real amount being over $1.1 million. Clearly that much draw would damage the AAA bond rating Bethel enjoys.

When the chair of the Board of Finance said that he would consider, but did not personally think taking from the fund balance was a good thing to do, I take Mr. Kingston at his word.

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I fully expect a special meeting of his board will discuss some amount of mill rate relief. At least take the increase down to 0.5 or a little below ($250,000 would do that). The taxpayers need relief, and I do expect promises to be kept that this will be considered.

Honor that promise (to consider), and I will vote Yes; that's what the sign on my lawn says.

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I've been told this can be done (225 to 250k) out of capital non-recurring accounts, made up from the fund balance without a big risk to the AAA rating, That's enough to get the new mill rate BELOW 32 to 31.97 FREEZE IT BELOW 32! give "we the taxpayers" some relief! Mr. Kingston, call a special meeting for Monday or Tuesday BEFORE the vote. There's no telling how many of the BAC voters will say NO if you do not honor what you told me at the town meeting that you WOULD bring it to discussion! Do you want yet another failed vote? What then?
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