MAYOR PEREZ CALLS FOR REAL DISCUSSION ON

PROPERTY TAX REFORM  

---NEWS RELEASE---

(April 2, 2007)---Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez is calling for a realistic discussion on property tax reform.  He made his comments today during a news conference with fellow Democrats President Pro Tempore Don Williams (D-Brooklyn), Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.

Mayor Perez says, “It is a good sign that the Governor is speaking up on this issue, however, now let’s sit down with leadership and work out a plan of action that benefits all of the state’s cities and towns.”

The news conference at the Legislative Office Building was held in response to the Governor’s proposal to cap the ability of towns and cities to fund government.

Mayor Perez says, “Since I took office in 2001, Hartford’s budget has only grown about eight percent.  However, during that time, I have had to raise local property taxes to make up for the loss in revenue to the city from state and federal sources; increased costs of maintaining our fully-funded city pension; and the cost building new magnet schools so that the state can comply with the Sheff v. O’Neil settlement.”

Mayor Perez goes on to say, “As a city with over 40 percent of its property non taxable, the Governor’s proposal would drastically limit our only source of revenue.”

The Democrats say that the Governor’s plan is an attempt to strip local communities of the ability to manage their own finances.  At the beginning of the Legislative Session, Mayor Perez proposed a property tax plan that would give significant income tax credit to taxpayers statewide, and a greater credit for those who lived in places like Willimantic, New London, New Haven, Waterbury, Bridgeport, and Hartford.