MONTVILLE TOWN VOTERS WILL VOTE THIS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2008, ON WHETHER THEY SHOULD ADOPT A TWELVE MILLION ($12,000,000.00) DOLLAR BOND ISSUE TO PAY A JUDGEMENT, THAT THE TOWN OWES RAND-WHITNEY.
IN 1992, RAND-WHITNEY CONTAINER BOARD AND THE TOWN OF MONTIVILLE SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR THE TOWN TO RECYCLE THE WASTE WATER FROM RAND-WHITNEY'S PLANT. THE WATER WOULD THEN BE REUSED IN THE PAPER PLANT. THE LAWYERS FOR THE TOWN, TOLD THE TOWN OFFICIALS NOT TO SIGN THE CONTRACT.
IN 1995, WHEN THE PLANT WAS UP IN OPERATION IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE WATER TREATMENT WAS NOT WORKING GOOD ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THE QUALITY OF WATER THAT THE PAPER COMPANY NEEDED. THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT THE TOWN THOUGHT THAT THE TREATMENT SYSTEM WOULD WORK. THE TOWN FELT THAT RAND-WHITNEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT WORK BECAUSE THEY HAVE OTHER PAPER PLANTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. IN MY OPINION, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW RAND-WHITNEY DIDN'T KNOW THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT WORK.
THE TWO SIDES HAVE FILED LAWSUITS BACK AND FORTH. WITH THE ORIGINAL TEN MILLION ($10.000.000.00) DOLLAR JUDGEMENT PLUS INTEREST THE TOWN NOW OWES $11.68 MILLION. IF THE BOND ISSUE IS APPROVED, IT WILL RAISE THE TAX RATE AN ADDITIONAL 0.84 MILL RATE. FOR EXAMPLE A $200.000.00 HOUSE WOULD SEE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $168.00 PER YEAR. A $300,000.00 HOUSE WOULD SEE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $294.00 PER YEAR.
HOW DOES THIS EFFECT THE MOHEGAN PEOPLE? WE NEED MONTVILLE TO PROSPER. FOR ONE THING, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT NEEDING OUR HELP. THE SECOND THING, IS WHEN CASINO CUSTOMERS DRIVE AROUND MONTVILLE WE WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY THEMSELVES. PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO SEE A RUN DOWN AREA, WHICH COULD HAPPEN WITH HIGHER TAXES. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP UP THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES. PEOPLE MAY LEAVE THE AREA. TAXPAYERS MAY NOT HAVE THE EXTRA INCOME TO GAMBLE. MAYBE THE MOHEGAN TRIBE SHOULD BUY THE BONDS, IF MONTVILLE DECIDES TO GO THAT WAY. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE AREA AROUND THE MOHEGAN SUN, DOES EFFECT THE CASINO.
I HOPE WHATEVER HAPPENS, WILL BE THE RIGHT THING FOR MONTVILLE. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE VOTE TURNS OUT.
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I pay taxes in this town and even though we will be socked with a hike, I say go with the bonding...we'll have to pay it anyway - it isn't something we can refuse to do. Kudos to our town fathers who spent the "rainy day fund" a few days before the jusgement was handed down!?! Incredible! This has been all through the courts and still we've been ruled against. Bite the bullet and pay up...Natinihak
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