Town News & Commentary: March 2008

Monday, March 31, 2008

We're Number 6

RI has the 6th highest tax burden according to this survey:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/Advice/TheBestAndWorstStatesForTaxes.aspx?page=2

Nice post, Duck

http://twopartysystem.blogspot.com/

See the post of 03/28/08.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Notes from CONE Master Plan Public Hearing

MY NOTES FROM PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING

Master Plan: Centre Of New England Phases 7B and 7C
Commerce Park Realty, LLC
Major Land Development Project Proposing 52 Residential Condominiums
AP 5, Lots 14.1 and 14.2; Zone BP
Centre of New England Boulevard

4.5 acre site on the west side of CONE across from Hertz Rental and near Mack Truck and Champion Windows. Adjacent to Amgen property, wetlands, existing detention basin.
Proposed 52 units, 26 duplexes. Not age-restricted, needs relief from age-restriction requirement. Needs relief from buffer zone requirement.
3 different models: 900 Square Feet $179,000; 1200 SF $189,000; 1500 SF $199,000. This site was originally planned as self-storage units, 90% impervious surfaces, now will be 42% impervious.
Intends to apply for Kent County Water, will be sewered. Well water for irrigation.
All units two bedroom or less.
DEM wants easement to wetlands to the south of the property.
Fiscal impact to be assessed a the preliminary hearing.
Master Plan voted on and approved 6-0 (3 members absent) with conditions. Age restriction and buffer variances granted.

Projo Article on H-7950

Here is the projo link to last night's hearing on the Massive Tax Increase Bill:
http://www.projo.com/news/content/BUDGET_PROTESTS_03-27-08_CB9H9AB_v17.774f00.html

Here is KC Times article on the same subject:
http://www.kentcountytimes.com/content/view/106045/

I was screaming at the TV when the sponsors were answering questions on the "fairness" of the bill. Over 100 people signed up to testify on this bill. There was a lot of opposition there as well some folks who were in favor of passage. In the end the bill was "held for further study" which means its chances of being enacted are slim. It also means that we need to watch this very closely, as a different version of the massive tax increase bill may re-submitted.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

News Articles - Public Payroll Info, Solar Wind Farm

The top ten salaried people - municipal and school:
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_cov_top_ten_03-25-08_R09CV54_v36.358da09.html

Possible solar wind farm at Picillo:
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/bz_solar_farm25_03-25-08_K19G9RN_v11.38e5188.html

Good luck Chief DaSilva:
http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_police_03-25-08_BU9GA1D_v12.3587b04.html

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Upcoming Meetings

Town Council 03/24:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4232/2008/55050.pdf

School Committee 03/25:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4248/2008/54894.pdf

Planning Commission 03/26:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4233/2008/54982.pdf

Land Trust 04/01:
http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4244/2008/55011.pdf

Friday, March 21, 2008

Stop H-7950, Stop Our Taxes from Being Increased!

Here is a link to the wording of House bill H-7950:

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText08/HouseText08/H7950.pdf

This bill would raise taxes by an estimated $300 MILLION PER YEAR by expanding the scope of what is subject to the sales tax and increasing several other taxes.

Bill Sponsors:

Rep. David A. Segal rep-segal@rilin.state.ri.us (401)432-7049
Rep. Anastasia Williams rep-williams@rilin.state.ri.us (401)272-8135
Rep. Grace Diaz rep-diaz@rilin.state.ri.us (401)467-8413
Rep. Joseph S. Almeida rep-almeida@rilin.state.ri.us (401)467-7033
Rep. Arthur Handy rep-handy@rilin.state.ri.us (401)785-8996

Here are our local elected officials in the House of Representatives:

Ray Sullivan rep-sullivan@rilin.state.ri.us
Victor Moffit rep-moffitt@rilin.state.ri.us
Nicholas Gorham rep-gorham@rilin.state.ri.us
Patricia Serpa rep-serpa@rilin.state.ri.us

If you agree that we are over-taxed as it is and are opposed to increasing taxes further, then please contact the sponsors and our local reps and let them that you are against passage of this bill. The hearing for this bill is scheduled for March 26th so please contact these officials immediately.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Legislative Alert

I received this info a couple of days ago. RI is the 5th highest taxed state in the USA. We're taxed out! Please read below and if you agree contact your state representative or senator and tell them no more additional or increased taxes!

Bill # H-7950 TAXES, TAXES AND MORE TAXES!
March 18, 2008 The House Finance Committee has rescheduled a hearing on anti-business and job development legislation to be heard on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at approximately 4:30 P.M. in Room 35. The bill includes the following:
* Sales tax on virtually all services, including appliance repairs, landscaping, movie tickets, laundry, temp agencies, club membership, real estate services and so on except physicians and lawyers
* Reduction in sales tax from 7% to 4.5% over a number of years
* 2% gross revenue tax on lawyers and accountants
* Tax on clothing valued over $250
* Tax on the trade-in of motor vehicles
* Reinstate the capital gains tax back to 5%
* Tax non-resident S-Corporation owners at the corporate rate of 9%
* Repeal virtually all business tax credits
* Tax on the press and newspapers
* Impose a cap on historic tax credits with eligibility requirements
* Sales tax on all fuels including home heating oil
* Tax precious metal bullion
* Increase state income tax 2.5% in 2008
* Decrease many other tax credits
* Eliminate the research and development tax credit for employers of 30 or fewer employees
* Eliminate the alternative flat tax after 2008
* Tax on dietary supplements sold on prescriptions
* Institute a sales tax on bus/van/truck rentals
* Eliminate the capital investment in small business credit
* Repeal the Job Development Act
* Repeal the mill building and economic privatization act
* Repeal the exception from sales tax by writers, composers and artists

Increasing taxes are not the way to go to correct a serious budget problem. This legislation will surely stop economic development, job creation, and is just plain BAD LEGISLATION! Taxing services have been an abysmal failure in other states and falls heavily on small business and on those who cannot up and relocate. For your information, it is estimated this bill alone will increase taxes by over $300 million.

Address your letter to The Honorable (Representative's name), c/o Speaker of the House, 323 State House, Providence, RI 02903 and to the Honorable (Senator's name) c/o Senate President's Office, 318 State House, Providence, RI 02903. Also please send a copy of your letter to the address below. For Representative and/or Senator in your district refer to the links below.

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/hofrep.html

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/senate.html

School Article

Here is a link to projo article about the school budget:

http://www.projo.com/ri/coventry/content/WB_blunder_03-19-08_TU9E4IB_v11.372d0c9.html

The School Committee last week mistakenly adopted the original, uncut version of its 2009 spending request. It was just a glitch, said school officials. There is a rumor I've heard that the town wants to eliminate the Town Finance Director's position and have the School Business Administrator take over the books for both town and school. I have a better idea -- eliminate the school business adminstrator position and have our town finance director take over the books for both town and school -- and then have a forensic audit done of School Dept. finances.