Posted on 01/14/2004 5:52:03 PM PST by Rodney King
Shays suffers assessment shock Urges leaner Bridgeport budget after major property increases
By BILL CUMMINGS bcummings@ctpost.com
BRIDGEPORT - U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays' jaw dropped last week when his new property revaluation arrived in the mail.
Now, the seven-term congressman is wondering if he can afford his Black Rock home.
"I had a shock the other day when I got my new assessment. I don't know what it says about my ability to live in this house," Shays, R-4, said Tuesday during an editorial board meeting with the Connecticut Post. "This is a huge issue," he added.
Like most Bridgeport residents, Shays last week received notification of the new assessment for his Beacon Street home, set by a state-mandated statistical revaluation. The new numbers come on the heels of the 1999 citywide revaluation of property, the first in 20 years, which is still being phased in to tax bills.
The value of Shays' house jumped 83 percent. If the current mill rate of 55.2 is not reduced
city officials say it will be cut significantly
his taxes would rise from $15,180 annually to $27,765.
"When taxes were at $15,000, I said, 'I can do it.' I have the income," Shays said.
He suggested the city's $413 million budget "may need to be leaner. It's not a poor budget."
Mayor John M. Fabrizi has pledged to significantly cut the tax rate, although the extent of that reduction won't be known until the City Council sets a budget for the new fiscal year this spring.
In other matters, Shays offered an impassioned defense of his call for Republican Gov. John G. Rowland to resign, in light of the governor's recent lies over accepting gifts from employees and state contractors, and his overall handling of the crisis that may lead to his impeachment.
Shays said he initially gave the governor the benefit of the doubt
the two have been friends for 20 years
and advised him to come clean about all gifts he'd accepted, and to answer all questions put to him.
"Before the New Year and after Christmas, I said to him, 'If you did anything illegal, don't listen to me. Listen to your lawyers. If you are not guilty, listen to people with political smarts about how to regain the public trust.'
"I said, 'You are now in a bunker mentality. You need advice on how you are coming across,' " Shays said.
After Rowland went on television last week to apologize again for lying, Shays said he decided to call for his resignation.
The governor, he explained, was not forthcoming during that speech, and was apparently rejecting advice to lay everything on the table and answer all questions.
Asked if he believes Rowland is instead following his original advice
listen to your lawyer if you have done anything criminal
Shays declined to offer an opinion.
During Tuesday's nearly two-hour editorial board meeting, Shays also touched on a variety of other subjects.
For example, Shays said he:
? supports President Bush's handling of the war on terrorism and believes the U.S. was justified in invading Iraq. He said Bush was correct that Saddam Hussein had an "active biological" weapons program, although he admitted his nuclear program may have been dismantled before the war.
? stood by his comments that, given the high terrorism alert over the holidays, people should rethink trips to places like Times Square on New Years Eve. "I think it's a mistake to give a warning and then tell people to do anything you would normally do. They should say do everything you have to do."
The weasel of impeachment was using the occasion to garner a plush job for his wife. Sort of like blackmailing slick. Never heard what type of job she got however.
Perhaps if our elected representatives were faced with more of the "huge issues" that Joe Average deals with on a daily basis (thanx to our elected reps) things would be different.
If your a liberal, No problem. But, If your a conservative, heaven help ya.
A neighbor came to the Mullah Nasruddin with bad news. "Mullah, I am afraid that one of your bulls got loose and left your property."
"Yes?"
"I'm afraid so. And your bull wandered on to my land, and gored one of my prize cows. My best cow, actually."
"Yes?"
"I'm afraid she died, Mullah. And I was wondering if some ... restitution would be appropriate."
"Ah", said the Mullah, "Now I understand the reason for your visit. But, alas, your story is all too common. This is, you see, a natural event. It is bound to happen from time to time and cannot be prevented. As such, although I am sorry for your loss, no question of restitution may be entertained."
At this, the neighbor smiled and said, "You are wise Mullah. Unfortunately, I may have told the story poorly. You see, it was my bull that got loose. And if was your prize cow that died. But, as you say, no restitution is necessary."
"Not so hasty!", said the Mullah. "I now see that this case is more complicated than I thought. It may be that some payment is owed to the man who suffered a loss."
Moral: Things look different when it's your cow getting gored.
It makes their wallets grow.
...not realizing that this only encouraged them....
Trust me, it don't help.... (Not to say you shouldn't try...)
Here in PA, we have three property taxes - county, local, and school. The biggie is the school - the county and local are chump change compared to that. And the school boards are local - that's where the changes need to be made.
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