Written By Jan Rifkinson
At the August 3rd Board of Selectmen meeting, the Jesse Lee Church requested an approximate $800 tax abatement on about $12k in income derived from a parking lot business on their property.
After some discussion, the propriety of granting this abatement was tabled with the not-so-unusual statement by First Selectman, Marconi, that it had been rubber stamped for years without question based on some agreement made between some people at some time, some where.
In my view charity is a wonderful part of Ridgefield's heritage. What is problematic for me is how the monies are distributed.
When the last Charter Revision Commission was in session, I suggested that the BoS appoint a 'Grants Commission'.
Going forward any organization that wanted a grant would apply to that Commission in writing, explaining why a grant was needed. The Commission would weigh the various requests, review usage reports from past recipients and present their recommendations to the BoS, which by charter, must disburse monies.
By doing it this way, I reasoned, disbursing grants would be independent of personal relationships and political spheres.
At the August 3rd Board of Selectmen meeting, the Jesse Lee Church requested an approximate $800 tax abatement on about $12k in income derived from a parking lot business on their property.
After some discussion, the propriety of granting this abatement was tabled with the not-so-unusual statement by First Selectman, Marconi, that it had been rubber stamped for years without question based on some agreement made between some people at some time, some where.
In my view charity is a wonderful part of Ridgefield's heritage. What is problematic for me is how the monies are distributed.
When the last Charter Revision Commission was in session, I suggested that the BoS appoint a 'Grants Commission'.
Going forward any organization that wanted a grant would apply to that Commission in writing, explaining why a grant was needed. The Commission would weigh the various requests, review usage reports from past recipients and present their recommendations to the BoS, which by charter, must disburse monies.
By doing it this way, I reasoned, disbursing grants would be independent of personal relationships and political spheres.
The Charter Revision Commission researched,
honed and accepted this approach, presenting it to the Board of
Selectmen who promptly killed it.
The First Selectman was protective of the current system. Di Master's voiced her opposition by saying that 'handing out grants was one of her most satisfying responsibilities'. Andy Bodner mused that the amount involved (currently in excess of $225k) wasn't enough to change the system. Both J Plock and B Manners were also skeptical.
I believe a common sense argument could be made that all grants, rent & tax abatements should fall into a single category so tax payers could easily see how many of their tax dollars were disbursed in this manner.
We might all be surprised how much we spend in discretionary funds.
The First Selectman was protective of the current system. Di Master's voiced her opposition by saying that 'handing out grants was one of her most satisfying responsibilities'. Andy Bodner mused that the amount involved (currently in excess of $225k) wasn't enough to change the system. Both J Plock and B Manners were also skeptical.
I believe a common sense argument could be made that all grants, rent & tax abatements should fall into a single category so tax payers could easily see how many of their tax dollars were disbursed in this manner.
We might all be surprised how much we spend in discretionary funds.
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