TAXES

None of us likes to pay taxes.

But every one of us benefits from the expenditures made with our tax dollars. Our tax dollars educate our children, provide our seniors with transportation and support, pave our roads, keep our public swimming pool open and cleanse our sewage before it goes into Long Island Sound.

Branford is blessed with a strong culture of citizen involvement. Countless individuals and organizations support or supplement the services that are paid for with our tax dollars. Every time you recycle, or tutor a child in the public schools, or serve on one of our Town's many volunteer boards and commissions, you help keep taxes down. We take pride in our unparalleled record of supporting talented volunteers and encouraging citizen participation in government and civic life.

We believe in providing sufficient tax dollars to maintain our Town's infrastructure, educate our children, secure our public safety and ensure other essential services, including those that protect the weakest and most vulnerable among us. The economic collapse of late 2008 did not come without warning and during budget preparations that spring, we made very conservative projections in certain key areas to prepare. We reduced our Town's debt service by $600,000 by taking advantage of Branford's excellent credit rating to retire older, more costly bonds. By taking those actions and by keeping the budgets for all Town departments the same or lower than last year, we kept the increase in the mil rate for this fiscal year to 0.37 mil, about 1.6%, and still maintained critically important services.

We know that paying taxes is difficult for many of our residents. That's why we initiated or expanded tax relief programs that are in place today for veterans and seniors.

We are committed to democracy - to the messy process by which self-governing citizens argue about priorities and turn the results of those debates into a budget. We pledge to lead a Government that is transparent and open, with no hidden agendas. Our only guide will be the long-term best interests of our Town and our fellow citizens.