Last year the Connecticut General Assembly and Governor Dan Malloy, at the urging of Mayor Bill Finch, delayed implementation of state-mandated revaluation of taxable property that extended into this election year. Vision Government Solutions, the company that was paid more than $300,000 for the delayed service but must now update the property information, is on the City Council agenda Monday night “for the Reappraisal and Revaluation of Taxable, Real and Exempt Property Located within the corporate limits of the City.”
Barring another delay from the state, the revaluation will take place for the start of the budget year that begins July 1, 2016. Finch said at the time implementing reval would scare off businesses and hurt homeowners. Finch’s reelection opponents assert the mayor sought the delay to save himself from a massive tax hike in an election year.
The last revaluation was 2008.
Also on the City Council agenda is a request from councilor Rick Torres, a Republican mayoral candidate, that “City Council Members Written and Electronic Requests for Departmental Information of any kind be provided Expeditiously.”
The matter will be referred to Miscellaneous Matters Committee. Since his election to the council in 2013 Torres has vehemently chastised roadblocks he says he receives in securing information from departments.
“In light of good council members indignance at the city’s booting program fiasco, it is a good time to rally the council to demand individual respect,” says Torres. “This resolution makes every council person capable of discovering the truth. No longer will we have to wait until a council president green lights access to public information.”
Full council agenda here.
Come on, Rick. Councillors will demand respect from this administration when the Mayor and Council President tells them they can. Not a moment sooner.
The Democrats on the Bridgeport City Council will only offer respect when they behave respectfully.
The council should demand the results of the last reval be made public with the approval of this new contract. Come on Rick, offer that as an amendment.
If the results do not change significantly then it is proof Mayor Finch is throwing away taxpayers’ dollars for political purposes. Make it happen Rick, Bob, Trish.
Yeah right, this administration will NEVER release information “expeditiously.” All documents have to be checked. If anything comes up that might cast a bad light or garner up “questions” on Finch/McCarthy etc., then Anastasi must come up with an “opinion” why they shouldn’t be released. All this takes time. Nothing will change, no matter what resolution is passed.
Harvey, it will change if we vote Finch out and Rick in!
Thank you Rick for continuing the questioning and expecting a response. That is one of the serious Council letdowns. Timeliness of information from which you can develop a worthwhile understanding of an issue coming before you and its fiscal importance is another.
Council subcommittees fail to get quorums and cancel meetings without re-scheduling. Does Education ask Council member James Holloway for a report from the School Building Committee that is processing $100 Millions regularly of State and City bonded funds? Does the Ordinance Committee review Ordinances to see whether they are being attended to or need amending? What say you about your stipend rules and the way the debit card system runs?
More than half the Council attend at least one “educational meeting on governance subjects” annually paid for by taxpayers. What “best practices” have been brought back to the community and how have those members communicated their impressions to the taxpayer? How many legislative bodies in a City of our size are without assistance in doing the business of the City Council? Time will tell.