Bevilacqua: Tax Reform Is Highest Priority

On the eve of the debate between his two opponents sponsored by the local political establishment, the Bridgeport and Trumbull Business Councils, Independent candidate for the Connecticut General Assembly representing the 123rd House district, today reiterated that his commitment to tax reform is his highest priority.

Mr. Bevilacqua, a public administrator by profession, spoke at length to some constituents during get-out-the-vote phone calls to friends and Trumbull voters. He explained the connection between local and state tax revenue streams and how this outdated and oppressive policy harms the concept of private ownership making it more difficult for the needest among us to make ends meet during this lingering recession.

Mr. Bevilacqua also explained that pre-existing legal precedence and lack of overall policy direction creates a perilous system where government power is maximised at the expense of the people.

"First and foremost, the law in this area has not been updated in 60 years.  We need local control and decision-making on a variety of public policy including tax policy, but we also need to take into consideration the new types of taxes that have been implemented since the last revisions."  said Louis Bevilacqua  "I will fight for a greater share of ECS monies to our town and a more equitable formula, but we also need to prevent the over taxation of home owners by local collectors.  How can the people get back on their feet while being attacked from every direction, with government on all levels holding out their hand?"

Among the ideas he discussed include tax credits for seniors, especially those living on limited budgets and a lessening of the tax burden for people who have fallen on hard times with low asset ratios.

"The role of local government is not to stake an equitable claim on property in arrears of taxes.  The role of government is to ensure a workable structure."  said Bevilacqua  "Certainly a women who has owned a family home for a generation, and whose family has purchased the property a century ago has greater right to that land than the local tax collector.  We need such stability in our community even if her salary is not reflective of the changing demographics in town.  In such a system, tax forgiveness could be in order, but we will need to update state law to ensure local administrators understand our new direction."

Mr Bevilacqua pointed to the establishment of increased gaming revenues and the establishment of the State Income tax under Governor Weicker as two examples of revenue streams not in place when our current local property tax based structure was created.  The new forms of taxation were designed to mitigate the burden on struggling homeowners, not increase it.