Charter Changes Would

Affect Tax Bills

To the Editor:

It has come to our attention that the current charter commission revisions will impact the tax assessor and tax collector offices in a negative manner. Our offices work toward having all information pertaining to billing up to the computer vendor by the first week of June for the annual July tax bill mailing.

The revision in the charter is stating that a referendum will not be held until the fourth Tuesday in May, this puts us behind in not only being able to get the bills out in a timely manner, but it affects the elderly programs that have to be inputted with the new mill rate not only in the computer but also manually on a four-page application.

If the voting time is extended to this late of date, we know that certain state requirements will be difficult to meet. The July billing will most likely be affected in that the time for preparing and mailing is already a difficult task with the current setting of the mill rate in the early part of May.

Our offices were never contacted with regard to any changes being made to the charter. These revisions would have a negative financial impact on the town as it would be very difficult to send out the annual tax bills in a timely manner.

Denise Hames, Assessor

Carol Mahoney, Tax Collector

45 Main Street, Newtown               October 30, 2001