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Finch and DeStefano Want Legislature To Raise Sales Tax


by turfgrrl


March 25th, 2008 · 12 Comments

File this under WTF. From the Courant:

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch says he could raise $9 million by increasing the state sales tax from the current 6 percent to 7 percent. He says Bridgeport’s property taxes cannot yield any more revenue.

Some lawmakers, including Democrats who control the legislature, say they are skeptical. They say a higher sales tax would depress retail business in Connecticut’s cities.

Sen. Eileen Daily, a Westbrook Democrat who co-chairs the legislature’s tax-writing Finance Committee, asked mayors on Monday to explain why city residents could afford increased sales taxes if they already are hard-pressed to pay rising property taxes.

New Haven Mayor John DeStefano disputed the idea that higher sales taxes would chase away retail business.

Tags: Connecticut · Economy

12 Responses so far ↓ “Finch and DeStefano Want Legislature To Raise Sales Tax”



  • 1 anonymous // Mar 25, 2008 at 10:44 am

    This is ridiculous. There’s something seriously wrong with this picture. We pay among the highest taxes in the country coupled with the highest cost of living. Sen Daily is absolutely correct to question why city residents who are hardpressed to pay their property taxes can afford additional sales tax. It’s like they’re going to tax us all out of this state.

  • 2 Simple // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    It is pretty easy to understand. Cities have stores that sell lots of stuff to nonresidents. The nonresidents use the roads but pay for no services. These residents are overwhelmingly from the same smaller towns that also have no low income housing. A small increase in the sales tax if given to the cities where sales occur would help teh cities equalize that inequity and would lower property taxes in the cities by getting suburban residents to contribute to city expenses. Genuario and Knopp both floated similar ideas and both got shot down by the small town representatives. It is still a good idea.

  • 3 Ralph Fabrizio // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:41 pm

    Here is something even simpler. A TAX IS LIKE A TUMOR IT ONLY GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER UNTIL IT KILLS IT’S HOST. The largest % of goods that are sold are local residents. They will be the ones to take it on the chin. The alternative is to shop out of town which is exactly what will happen.

  • 4 Anonymous // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:53 pm

    #2–I have never seen property taxes go DOWN in my lifetime–you are Don Quixote tilting at windmills.

  • 5 anonymous // Mar 25, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    #2 maybe it’s a good idea if we residents could deduct the city sales taxes paid from our property taxes. Or just be exempt. Maybe it would drive the big box stores out of town which isn’t such a bad idea since they don’t contribute much in property taxes and they cause our roads to be clogged.

  • 6 fed up // Mar 25, 2008 at 7:12 pm

    here’s a novel approach…

    STOP SPENDING MONEY YOU DON’T HAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    /rant over

  • 7 Sean // Mar 26, 2008 at 8:31 am

    Democrats are out of control with this raise the sales tax issue! Shame on DeStefano, Finch and Dan Malloy! These Big Cites Mayors spend too much money- DeStefano for example- spent $3,000 on a custom closet which he does not use.

    All three of these cities- have a highest millage rates in the state. Most young people cannot afford to return home after college!

    None of these guy ever had a real job- just tax and spend- clowns.

  • 8 Tax and Spend Liberal Dems must go ! // Mar 26, 2008 at 10:49 am

    They have never seen a dime that they didn’t want to spend. How about the huge tax increase stanmford is facing and now this. Throw ‘em out !

  • 9 Angry in New Haven // Mar 26, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    John DeStephano, shame on you. Is this the kind of regionalism you had in mind when you ran for governor? Don’t raise taxes - cut spending. Cut those last unbuilt unneeded overblown schools. Work with what you have just like every other citizen has to do.

  • 10 Anonymous // Mar 26, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    Like our mayor in Norwalk is any better, no ideas no get up and go no third term. No confidence no planning no way is he doing what he said the quality of life sucks.No kidding.

  • 11 Anonymous // Mar 26, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    Why would new businesses locate in cities that had their own sales taxes? The major stores are already in the suburbs, with the exception of some places like WalMart, The Home Depot and other big box stores. However, these stores are also in communities that wouldn’t impose their own sales taxes, and so people would drive a few more miles to save money. As for smaller businesses and services that charge sales taxes, those in cities would lose business to similar businesses that won’t have the additional taxes.

    My bet is that the big city mayors are using this as a bargaining chip for further state aid.

  • 12 Anonymous // Mar 27, 2008 at 12:24 am

    listen to the mayors watch them during the nightly news they sound like mayors they are worth listening to. You don’t have to agree with them for the most part they are still listening to their residents . But they are talking making points decisions and running their city thats what counts.Its what mayors do when the rest of the state and country is paralized. Maybe its now we need local leadership not monkey see monkey do.

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