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Common Sense Citizen Group of East Hampton, CT

Note: Counter hits are since Sept. 1, 2003. Add 2000 for total.


(Please note that links to all pages on this web site are given at the top of each page, including this one. Some links are repeated below for convenience.)
 

What's New and Older Items of Interest

Dec. 19, 2008:: Teacher Salaries page updated to reflect highlights of contract recently negotiated with Bd. of Education
 
Feb 27, 2008: Our Test Scores page updated to include CAPT and SAT test results.
 
Feb 18, 2008: Education Spending and How Do We Compare? pages updated
 
Feb 13, 2008: Tax Effort and How Do We Compare? pages updated.
 
Feb 12, 2008: Visibility Report page updated. This page includes data on test scores, special education, salaries, enrollment and other items of interest.
 
Feb 2008: Mill Rate History page added showing what voters have approved at referenda since 1992.
 
June 10, 2005: Accomplishments page updated.The average taxpayer is now saving about $775 per year as a result of Common Sense's referendum recommendations being supported.
 
Dec. 15, 2004: Binding Arbitration page added. Discusses some of the issues contributing to the unlevel negotiating playing field.
 
July 16, 2004: Survey Results page has an error in Question 13b results related to open space. The "disagree" percent should be 43%, not 3%.
 
April 25, 2004: Recommendations and Allocation Issue pages updated.
 
Feb. 8, 2003: School Administrator Salaries page updated to include highlights of Superintendant's new contract.
 
Jan. 30, 2003: Salaries and Surpluses page updated to include some data from latest auditor's report and correct previous data regarding General Government potential and actual surpluses.
 
Oct. 15, 2002: Budget Tactics page added. All is not necessarily what it seems in budgets. The taxpayer should be aware of tactics sometimes used to sell budgets.
 
Oct. 10, 2002: Common Sense is pleased to report the existence of a statewide organization of taxpayer groups of various towns. The organization is Federation of CT Taxpayer Organizations (FCTO). More information can be obtained at its web site: http://ctact.org
 
Oct 2, 2002: Petition for Proposition 13 tax reform being circulated. See http://cttaxreform.com for details.
 
Sept 24, 2002: Open Space page updated.
 
August 18, 2002: Top Down Budget  page updated to summarize advantages. A limit on spending is always being set since requests always exceed resources. The philosophy underlying the spending limit is critical.
 
July 11, 2002: Survey Results page added. Contains Plan of Conservation and Development draft report giving basic survey results.Also, presented toward the end are the comments provided by the survey respondents.
 
April 11, 2002: Common Sense notes formation of Hebron CT taxpayer group Dollars and Sense who will be using our top down budget approach. See: http://www.hebrondollarsandsense.com
 
Mar. 24, 2002: Some Budget Subtleties page added.
 
Nov. 1, 2001: Budget Facts of Life page added.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Common Sense Taxpayer Association was formed in 1998 for the purpose of providing information to officials and citizens to help make more informed decisions on budgetary and other important matters affecting the community.  We tend to take fiscally conservative positions that will result in  responsible and reasonable spending and operational efficiencies while enhancing transparency of government, and empowering citizens through objective information.

Our plan for this site is to provide periodic updates of our analysis on
matters affecting the community especially on formulation of budgets which basically reflect what governments choose to do and choose not to do. 

Please see "What's New" section at left for items recently added. James Mathias is Chairman of Common Sense. Peter Arcidiacono is Manager of this web site.

Contact site manager.

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