Letter to the Editor: Proposed Killingworth Town Hall Addition

While our nation prepares for tax increases of major proportions and wilts in tens of trillions of dollars worth of debt and the residents of Connecticut try to cope with the largest tax increase in its history, the residents of our tiny town are also faced with increasing real estate taxes thanks to our Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance. These people proposed a town budget where expenditures exceeded revenues by $1.4 million. This abyss was approved by residents without real knowledge of the contents. Upon close review, there were numerous ways this budget could have been reduced.  Also, the deficit budget resulted after Region 17 school district (80% of the town’s budget) came in with a budget increase of only .14% - the lowest increase in 8 years.

But, how will it actually be paid? The Board of Finance said it would not cause a tax increase! Poppycock! Ask the 260 plus families whose valuations were raised and the owners of vehicles whose used car valuations either remained the same or increased for personal property tax purposes. Furthermore, the mill rate went from 22.77 to 24.78. One real example for personal property taxes is that of a 7 year old vehicle whose value stayed virtually the same and a 2 ½ year old vehicle whose value went up $1160 or 7%. The total tax of these two USED vehicles went up 14%!

Now, the selectmen and the Board of Finance are proposing to “borrow” and spend $3.5 million (pre-interest) on a “trophy” town hall. They are also presenting this to the same Killingworth residents in the month of July when a large portion of the residents are on vacation. The need for such a behemoth town hall is very questionable and will result in yet ANOTHER tax increase for the residents of Killingworth. This also increases the debt of the town and will have principle amortization payments of $170,000 per year over 20 years, WITHOUT considering interest. Region 17 has recently refinanced its bond issues from 2003 – 2005 totaling $15.2 million of principle and interest. This means about $1.3 million a year average for principle and interest thru 2024 (about 50% of this is Killingworth’s). Now the selectmen want to add another $3.5 million (excluding interest) to that debt. When are we going to learn about the problems of debt? When is the last time you saw a government project come in within the budget?

It seems like the Selectmen of Killingworth need to more seriously consider repairing leaky roofs, which definitely need fixing, at a much lower cost to the town or coming up with a more practical fiscally responsible  solution to solve the issue.

Submitted by: Jim Lippert, Killingworth Republican Town Committee