TIVERTON

Voters beware: don’t let the politicians into your checkbook

If Tiverton residents expect to see information regarding the percentage increase in the tax rate in the Financial Town Meeting docket, they are mistaken.

The FTM docket, page C, states: “NOW THEREFORE: it is resolved that the excess levy, due to excess debt service combined with a shortage of non property tax revenues, is hereby approved.”

Last year’s “Funds to be Raised (Real Estate & Tangible Personal Property)” was $26,909,360, per Christopher Cotta, Tiverton Budget Committee chairman, on May 8.

Section 44-5-2 of the Rhode Island General Laws specifies a maximum 5 percent increase in that number for 2008-2009 ($26,909,360 X 105 percent = $28,254,828). However, there are a few loopholes that allow an excess levy, if approved by the majority of voters at the Financial Town Meeting.

That excess levy referred to in the Tiverton Financial Town Meeting docket is the excess levy beyond the $28,254,828 — all the way to $30,272,578, an excess of $2,017,750. That excess results in an increase of “Funds to be Raised” to $30,272,578, that is 7.498 percent beyond the 5 percent cap.

That tax levy results in an anticipated tax rate of $11.39 per $1,000, or an increase in the tax rate of 11.01365 percent.

Those who were anticipating a 5 percent tax rate increase because of the 5 percent cap in the General Laws would have anticipated an increase of $200 on top of a $4,000 hypothetical tax bill for 2007, but instead should now anticipate an increase of $440.55, or more than double the previously anticipated increase.

The excess levy, an excess of 7.498 percent to be raised by taxes and an excess of 6.01365 percent in the tax rate, is an increase in the 2008 taxes, the 2009 taxes, the 2010 taxes and the taxes for every year of the future.

At the pre-Financial Town Meeting hearing of May 8, Mr. Cotta was in disagreement with my percentages. I cannot understand the disagreement, since the Tiverton Budget Committee provided all the numbers used in the calculations, and the calculations are all basic math.

One additional truth appears to be evident. That truth is the fact that municipal and state politicians perceive voter approval of bond issues as carte blanche to add the cost of bond repayment on top of normal tax rates.

That should be a warning for taxpayers when voting for or against the next bond issue. I know that when I take out a mortgage or a loan, the monthly payments must come from my monthly budget/income. However, municipal and state politicians do not follow this simple principle. Taxpayer beware.

Roger A. Bennis

Tiverton

EAST PROVIDENCE

Would Mike Damiani lose full disability if he passed a physical?

Mike Damiani doesn’t want to take a physical to prove he’s fit for the demands of an assistant harbormaster. And why should he? After all, no other AH’s have had to prove their fitness.

Of course, none of them are on a full tax-free medical disability pension from the city, either. Mike is. And assistant harbormasters ARE the ones who respond to marine emergencies, like pulling a person out of the water to safety, for example.

Mike thinks it’s all just politics, and he’s being discriminated against. He’s a victim.

Here’s what I think: The City Council voted unanimously to require the physical exam to protect the city from liability if we knowingly put an assistant harbormaster on the water who already has been judged medically disabled.

As to victims, the real victims are the citizens of East Providence, who would pay, in addition to Mike’s full tax-free medical disability pension, another $2,500 per year in assistant harbormaster pay.

Oh, and don’t forget the second disability we’d pay to Mike if he finds the duties are too much for him physically.

How is Mike feeling these days? He’d be “better than 80 percent” of the officers on the police force now, he told a reporter. Hmmm.

Now, if he passed a physical, he just might lose that full disability, and find himself back in his sergeant’s uniform. Could that be the real reason Mike is afraid of the physical?

Bob Cusack

Member, East Providence City Council

Ward One