Your Voice Matters. Your Vote Counts.
Although the public hearing was on the tax shift, and how it affects residential and commercial property owners, it was abundantly clear from the people who filled the city council chambers, that neither group can afford to pay higher property taxes.
Thank you to everyone who attended. It makes a big difference, including what followed later Thursday night in our regular meeting, after many folks had left the public hearing.
But first, it is important for people to realize, that the City Council cannot initiate how funds are spent. Only the mayor can initiate or allocate spending funds, and send proposed spending to the city council for approval.
At this time, residents concerned about increasing property taxes should contact the mayor’s office and ask him to use the available funds to reduce the tax levy. Spread the word.
Mayor’s office – Phone (413) 572-6201 or email [email protected]
The council can only cut the budget in June, and suggest how funds are allocated at the end of the calendar year when the state certifies the amount we have in free cash.
We cut the budget earlier this year, with the knowledge that funding for the employee health insurance would be restored, and that the city was projected to have about twelve million dollars in Free Cash and Stabilization at the end of 2014. This amount was just certified by the state and is now available to be used for any lawful purpose.
The mayor had proposed increasing the shift on businesses to 1.66, with an increase in the residential rate.
After the public hearing, the council voted to send all of the Mayor’s spending proposals to the Finance Committee, and did not vote to accept the proposed increase in the shift, or the tax levy. My hope is that the Mayor will work with the Finance Committee toward developing a solution to provide much needed tax relief, to both business and homeowners.
The Mayor can restore funds to the health insurance account, put money toward the debt service, fund necessary expenditures that were not in his budget in June, such as police cars, and still maintain adequate funds in the free cash and stabilization accounts.
The city needs to control spending, address unsustainable obligations and provide much-needed tax relief to home and business owners. But at this moment, Westfield has the opportunity to hold the line on property taxes.
City Councilor Dan Allie
