Bill allowing
non-resident tax payers to vote in annual meeting signed
by Governor Rell
Senator John A. Kissel (R-Enfield)
today said that HB 5186, An Act Concerning the Thompsonville
Fire District was signed into law this afternoon
(May 21) by Governor Rell after passing both the House
and Senate two weeks earlier.
“This bill has been a long time in the making
and I was happy to work with Rep. Tallarita to help
move it through the legislative process” said
Sen. Kissel. “While we were hoping to have it
signed by the May 14th annual meeting, so that property
owners would be eligible to vote on the budget, I am
very happy that this bill was signed by the Governor
earlier this afternoon. I am also looking forward to
participating in a bill-signing ceremony over the summer.”
Prior to passage of the bill, only residents of the
Thompsonville Fire District had been able to vote in
the annual Fire District meeting. As there are a large
number of residences in Thompsonville that are not owner-occupied,
there has been a form of taxation without representation.
This bill adds to the current voter eligibility, which
is any person residing within the limits of the district
and qualified to vote in the affairs of the town of
Enfield, any citizen of the United States of the
age of eighteen, or more, who is liable to the district
for taxes assessed against such citizen.
“Non-resident taxpayers have had to absorb tax
increases specific to the fire district for years without
having any say in the budget, and this is an important
move towards creating a fairer system of taxation,”
added Senator Kissel. “Especially during this
economy, these individuals should have a say in the
local budget.”
| 
