Tax Pledge-Who kept election promises?

The APT seeks to inform citizens and to keep local government accountable.

Click HERE for our easy to read summary of Councilor budget votes.

or

Click 2010 Budget Vote for the city PDF on how councilors voted. (start p. 7)

Click fy11adoptedbudget for the FY11 Adopted budget

Identifying councilors who take a Pledge to Lower Taxes is one of the most informative pieces of information a voter can have.


The Tax Pledge for the 2009 Election:
Yes or no: “I pledge to only approve a city budget that results in a decrease in the property tax rate.”

Those who took the tax pledge are:
Ken Smith – YES, that is what we are fighting for.
Nancy Clayburgh – YES, we must protect our taxpayers.

Esther Kennedy – said she would “do everything in her power to lower taxes”

Jerry Hejtmanek Said YES at first. *

Erik Spear – Answered no.

Bob Lister – Answered, could not take pledge.

Tony Covielo – Answered did not know enough on the budget to answer.

Chris Dwyer – Never answered

Mayor Tom Ferrini – Never answered

* ”On second thought, since I feel these pledges are disingenuous, I should not have made the pledge. I was rushing to the airport when I send my YES message and while it may be good politics and a important goal, it can also cause the wrong decisions to be made. I hope you understand my distinction.?”

  • 2009 BUDGET VOTE

Click 2009 Budget Vote to see The City PDF minutes. Councilors unanimously voted to increase taxes. Start on page 2. Mayor Ferrini, Assistant Mayor Blalock, Councilors Novelline Clayburgh,Dwyer, Smith, Kennedy, Spear, Pantelakos and Hejtmanek.

2008 BUDGET VOTE

Click 2008 Budget Vote to see The City PDF minutes. Councilors unanimously voted to increase taxes. Start on page 3. Mayor Ferrini, Assistant Mayor Blalock, Councilors Novelline Clayburgh, Dwyer,Smith, Kennedy, Spear, Raynolds and Pantelakos. Councilor Kennedy said that this is hard and commended the departments that came in at the requested goal of the City Council. She expressed her strong concern with overtime costs and its increase on the budget. She said that overtime costs are something that we will need to look at and work towards a solution.


  • 2007 BUDGET VOTE

Click 2007 Budget Vote to see The City PDF minutes. Councilors unanimously voted to increase taxes. Start on page 12. Mayor Marchand, Assistant Mayor Ferrini, Councilors Grasso, Dwyer, Raynolds, Pantelakos, Whitehouse, Smith and Hynes. Councilor Whitehouse said he was looking to further reduce the tax rate, but it could not be accomplished and he would support this resolution as submitted.


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