[Stylo]

Seems like home and commercial property owners will take the biggest hit if this goes through.

CT News Junkie | Municipal Loss Is State’s Gain

[JayCT]

Obviously the revenue has to be made up from somewhere. Not sure it this is good or bad. I know the towns are not liking it. Jay

[willow wind]

The tax man giveth, then he taketh away. Since municipalities base their mill rate on what services are needed, they have to adjust who and how much gets taxed to meet those needs. Which means we're all screwed anyway.

I do wonder how that $28,00 figure works. Say you have a $40,000 car. Would you pay taxes on the whole
$ 40,000, or just the $ 12,000 over the $ 28,000 ?

[MikefromCT]

If we eliminate the car tax, homeowners' taxes will likely go up, and for me and alot of other people I know - both in my town and elsewhere - we feel that we already pay more than enough. Doesn't really seem like a winning situation for anyone. Just another day in the most taxed state in the country.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Seems like home and commercial property owners will take the biggest hit if this goes through.

Originally Posted by JayCT

Obviously the revenue has to be made up from somewhere.

Originally Posted by willow wind

Which means we're all screwed anyway.

Originally Posted by MikefromCT

Doesn't really seem like a winning situation for anyone. Just another day in the most taxed state in the country.

I agree with all of these statements.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

//www.city-data.com/forum/19156950-post210.html

[trishguard]

This isn't fair. Everyone needs to pay something and while few people own homes many own cars and the towns need this money.

[Wilton2ParkAve]

? Connecticut has one of the highest home ownership rates in the country. Over 70% I believe. I also am of the mindset that there is so much waste and inefficiency at the municipal level that no noticeable change in services are required despite the loss of car tax revenue. When are teachers going to move to a defined contribution style pension?

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

I also am of the mindset that there is so much waste and inefficiency at the municipal level of services can continue to be provided despite the loss of car tax revenue.

That's where Malloy is trying to steer the ship, W2PA. He knows nobody will go for "county" style governance, so the answer is to just remove the income from the municipalities, and then redistribute the funds out of the Capitol.

[AnonChick]

What I'd like to see, is a tenant tax. A flat .25% rental tax on all rental spaces - homes and businesses. If you pay 1000/month in rent, that's 12,000/year in rent. So you'd owe 300 per year in rental tax. This would offset some of the municipal costs of paving, plowing, maintenence, lighting, education, library services, on-street parking, and all other amenities renters enjoy by using public property, but presently don't have to pay for via taxes. Y'know, all those things homeowners and business property owners are paying for. If you had an apartment complex of 100 units, each paying an average of even $400/year in taxes, that'd be $40,000 in new revenue. Doesn't pay for much, in the scheme of things. But it might cover the cost of books for all the kids who live in that building when they attend public school in that town. And the lower-cost of public school lunch programs. And the 3-block stretch of public road that their driveway empties out onto, including the street lights.

That way, homeowners won't be responsible for covering the tax-covered expenses of tenants, but tenants will be paying a marginal enough amount that it won't even put a dent into their yearly expenditures.

And don't forget - even if you're on HUD subsidies and paying $100/month in rent - that's $1200/year, and that's only $30/year in taxes. If you save up 1 dollar per week, you'll have enough to cover the tax bill, plus a stamp to mail it, the bus fare to get to and from the post office, and a cup of coffee at Starbucks to celebrate your contribution to society.