Remember to Vote on Tuesday November 3
November 3, 2009 by admin comment
Remember to vote at your polling location on Tuesday, November 3. You will be voting for members of the Board of Education, City Sheriff, and City Council. Black Rock polling locations are at Black Rock School, 545 Brewster Street and Longfellow School, 139 Ocean Terrace.
Ballot Question #2
There is also a special Referendum on allocating one mill of Bridgeport's property taxes to the Bridgeport Library system. This is not a tax increase, but a reallocation of funds from other areas of the city budget. Some of the operating costs of running the library system are in line items in various departments. The likely result of voting "Yes" for this referendum is that the overhead expenses will be consolidated into the library department budget, resulting in a net increase of $2.2 million in their budget. This may seem like a lot in lean times, but there is apparently no leeway in the wording of the referendum as it is determined by a very old, but still valid statute, which reads quite awkwardly as, "Shall a one (1) mill tax be levied to establish and maintain a free public library and reading room?"
About 25 years ago in 1985-1986, when the Library allocation was $2,398,445 that represented 1.26% of the total City expenditures of $190,438,309. That Library allocation, adjusted for inflation (based on Consumer Price Index), today would be worth twice as much, $4,796,890. Yet the current comparable allocation (without fringes, utilities, maintenance etc.) is $3,450,020, a reduction in buying power of almost 29%. That current allocation is 0.70% of the total of $489,741,659 for all City expenditures. Therefore, the one mill allocation, once all the line items are brought into the library budget, basically restores city spending on the library to 1985-1986 levels ($3.4M current library allocation + $1.3 million estimated overhead items to be moved into library budget + $2.2M increase = $6.9 million).
For more info:
http://liberatelibraries.com/default.html
Ballot Question #1
"Shall the findings of the Bridgeport City Council authorizing the city to exercise powers granted in the State of Connecticut City and Town Development Act be approved?"
The ballot question asks city residents to ratify demographic data compiled and approved by the City Council, a requirement of state law that's required every five years.
For at least the past 20 years, Bridgeport voters have answered "yes" to the question, thereby enabling the city to make the case that it deserves the authority to use economic development powers proscribed by state law.
What does a "yes" vote do for the city of Bridgeport? If a majority approves, the city can continue to issue bonds for development projects, and construct, rehabilitate, own, sell or lease commercial, industrial or housing facilities.
The renewal of the powers help the city expand its economic base and prove new jobs for its current residents and housing for newcomers.
If you are unsure of your polling location, visit the City of Bridgeport website at http://ci.bridgeport.ct.us click on Registrar of Voters under Departments and Voting Locator under Quick Links.
