Mayor Bill Finch Monday night issued a statement through his Communications Director Elaine Ficarra challenging the claim by H&R Block, fanned by city Republicans at a Monday night rally, that the state’s largest city is the highest taxed city in the country. Ficarra issued a “Fact Sheet on Inaccurate Statements Used by Bridgeport Republican Party” that cites Bridgeport as among the “10 worst places to retire” and highest taxed in the nation.
Ficarra’s statement follows:
“It’s a shame that when such progress has been made in the City of Bridgeport during the past five years–restoring credibility and financial stability to City government, and expanding economic development–that the local Republican party leaders would continue to work to latch on to misleading and inaccurate national ‘trend’ stories to divide our residents. The Governor’s current budget proposal would mean an $11 million loss in revenue to the City of Bridgeport. Mayor Finch’s prudent but sustainable submitted budget has held the line on spending in every possible way, while recognizing the formidable challenges posed by a potential loss of $11 million in revenue. The Mayor has urged city residents, and so should the Republican leaders, to unite in contacting their state legislators to demand they find a better way to cut the state’s budget rather than trying to balance it on the backs of city residents.”
The facts that the Republicans are using are simply wrong and we have provided evidence to refute these statements below:
Bridgeport progress:
During the past five years, the City, under Mayor Finch’s leadership, has:
* Cut spending
* Reduced the workforce by nearly 200 positions
* Cut police overtime
* Increased recycling rates and lowered utility costs, and
* Grown its Grand List
* Worked with nearly every labor union in the City to gain millions of dollars in concessions
* Received positive bond ratings from Moody’s and S&P
* Seen its population grow by thousands
* Reduced healthcare spending
* Built five new schools and will open four new high schools in fall of 2013
* Added 40 new police officers and 21 new firefighters
Fact Sheet on Inaccurate Statements Used by Bridgeport Republican Party:
About the “10 Worst Places to Retire”
Key to this story is the use of the Bridgeport metro area, which includes Stamford and Norwalk. It is no secret that Fairfield County is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States.
The City of Bridgeport has attracted residents–our population grew by the thousands for the first time in 60 years according to the 2010 census–because of the affordable housing options Bridgeport offers.
About the “H&R Block” story
The H&R Block blog post was based on a study which was conducted by the Washington, D.C., Office of the Chief Financial Officer to compare Washington, D.C.’s tax rates to cities around the country.
Mayor Finch doesn’t dispute that our residents pay a lot of taxes–the state of Connecticut bases its revenues on an overreliance on property taxes making it one of the more highly taxed states in the U.S.
However, this study relies on a flawed information, which takes into account more than property and motor vehicle taxes, but also includes gasoline, sales taxes, motor vehicle registration fees and state income tax–items over which the City has no direct control.
· H&R Block’s False Claims: Average Bridgeport homeowner’s tax bill is $10,000
· Fact: Average Bridgeport homeowner’s tax bill is $6,430
· H&R Block’s False Claims: This study is based on a family of three making $50,000 owning a home valued at $369,609
· Fact: This study rests on an income-to-home value that one would be hard-pressed to find in the City of Bridgeport. Median income of a Bridgeport resident is $38,000. The average home is valued at $170,000
It’s pretty clear, if you read all the way to the end of the H&R Block blogger’s story, that this is an attempt to use this data to encourage people to use their services, as if having your taxes done by H&R Block will somehow help lower your tax burden.
Here’s the link to the original story written by a blogger for H&R Block blogs.hrblock.com/2013/02/05/the-top-10-most-taxed-cities-in-america-infographic/.
The link to the DC study
It looks like they struck a nerve.
Where to start on this ridiculous and utterly untrue response? If Finch were not just about the worst mayor ever, this stuff would be funny. Doesn’t even come close to credulous.
The prick is right. H&R used an SMSA that broadly included Bridgeport. SMSA data specifically for Bridgeport is consistent with Finch’s contention. H&R hurt us with their interpretation.
*** 1. Cut O/T where? 2. Some new grammar school money and planning was allocated during Fabrizi years. 3. Cut spending where? 4. Money for new P/O’s & F/F comes from Fed grants to get started. 5. Population growth mostly non-voting undocumented immigrants. 6. Reduced union workers and forced retirements only to hire more family and friends to political jobs. 7. The millions gained in concessions will be cut short due to city lawsuits, unrealistic future union contracts and growing city debt. 8. Positive bond rating allows for more borrowing to balance budget and pay increasing debts. 9. Grand list growth where? Not everything has been a Finch bust but come now, let’s cut down on drinking the tainted city government “kool-aid” please! Fact: the average Bpt homeowner’s tax bill in the hood next to bank foreclosed property and dirty city-owned lots is about $6,430 a year. Motor vehicle taxes is another type of animal which if not paid after 1 year late, gets towed! However those with take-home city vehicles don’t need to worry, no? *** IS IT POSSIBLE EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT WORK FOR THE CITY AND COMPLAINS IS WRONG ON OIB? ***
Well stated, Mojo.
Mojo, well stated but now what? NOTHING, unfortunately.
I humbly agree with my unibrow knuckle-dragging friend. H&R hurt this town by publishing misleading data. Imagine a business owner considering a move here. He or she finds out it will cost more than anywhere else in the country to do commerce. I salute, however, the executives of Affineco, a very large commercial cleaning company. They have moved their HQ into the SCGas building recently.
Mojo,
Thanks for your rebuttal. Good job!
I want to comment on #9. I talked to four female taxpayers on the steps of City Hall last night and addressed the subject of the Grand List as an example of the way the truth is evaded. The Grand List identifies all land and buildings in a City (let’s ignore how autos and personal property of businesses are handled). That includes churches, Federal, State and municipal buildings, universities, not for profit property as well as private residences, and private business-owned property. The former items are subtracted from the Grand List and only the private residences and businesses form the basis for taxation, called the NET GRAND LIST.
When the City Council approves the Mayor’s proposed budget, that budget is compared to the NET GRAND LIST and a new MIL RATE becomes effective for the coming fiscal year that begins on July 1 each year.
So the Mayor and Elaine make sure to discuss the growth in Grand List (that includes new school buildings, improvements at universities, and especially the results of hospital improvements. However, when it comes to the NET GRAND LIST, they do not show any decreases in chart form caused by the teardown of the GE plant on the East Side, or the fire damage and teardowns in other parts of the community. Who has been building new private taxable property in the City? You have to go back several years to see Zoning and Board of Appeals approval for Fairfield Avenue parcels in Black Rock that were approved. Since then the Fairfield Metro station has gone into operation. Have any new apartments or condos been built? Money is cheap. What is holding up progress in the private sector, Elaine or Bill? Half-truths are not helpful. Time will tell.
BTB,
Check with Kuchma. Qué lástima.
Mayor Finch just doesn’t get it. This City is one of the highest taxed and most regulated in the country. More importantly, his Administration has made it worse not better. The facts are that total property taxes have increased significantly during his tenure and he wants to increase them again! In addition, his spending reductions have been inadequate. What about almost $1 billion in unfunded retiree health promises that are outrageous, unaffordable and unsustainable. What about the Mayor and several top city managers, including the City Council President, getting significant raises last year when taxes had to be raised? I sat on his tele-Town Hall last night for over an hour. It was supposed to be about the budget but was badly mismanaged by the screeners. Less than half the questions/comments related to the budget. Needless to say, they didn’t take my question. Namely, why can’t Bridgeport cut spending when most governments can? Doesn’t the Mayor understand that higher taxes will make Bridgeport less attractive for both businesses and individuals? It’s time for City Hall to wake up and get serious if it wants to avoid bankruptcy.