August 11, 2006

Trumbull Republicans,

In May, the Trumbull Board of Finance set the mill rate necessary to fund the excessive spending plan put forth by First Selectman Ray Baldwin.

The Democratic controlled Board of Finance and Town Council approved spending for 19 1/2 new town positions, a replacement vehicle for a fire chief who is currently under suspension and $35,000.00 for an unidentified and unplanned audit-not to mention pay raises for the First Selectman (5%), Town Clerk and Treasurer (3-4%) (All Democrats) for the second consecutive year, even though the raises are not payable for their current terms in office by state law.

This spending spree adds insult to injury for homeowners who already faced an average increase of 7.55 % in their taxes due to the shift from commercial to residential property values resulting from the State mandated revaluation.

In every phase of the budget process, Republicans were rebuffed in their attempts to reduce this new and unnecessary spending.

Baldwin rationalizes the added tax burden by blaming the revaluation and by claiming spending increases are lower than those of neighboring towns. Trumbull taxpayers should not accept his justifications for new spending initiatives when their July tax bills show unprecedented double digit increases in real estate tax. Taxpayers should remember the weight of this non-election year budget and his 4 others, which combined, exceed a 40% increase in taxes under his administration.

For more information on your Republican party visit us at www.TrumbullGOP.org

A message from the Trumbull Republican Town Committee

Dee Chiota, Chairman