Help Hamden residents

Honorable council members,

The lion's share of the proposed tax increase comes from the incredible contractual commitments to our nearly 1,400 union employees, town and BOE combined. Those, as always, are difficult to reduce other than by contract change. On the other hand, Mayor Garrett has added roughly $6.5 million in discretionary increases. Those include a whopping $4.5 million estimated growth in medical expenses and roughly $2 million in taxes based on a predicted reduction in the collection rate.

These increases can and should be reversed. The current year is predicted to close with a $2.1 million increase in medical, largely due to a bounce in claims since last year when COVID caused people to delay care. Predicting that increase will redouble next year is not indicated. The tax payment rate could be reduced but historically Hamden taxpayers have stepped up. The higher mill rate could cause some to miss payments or even withhold intentionally is possible, but not likely. I think the town should take a chance by giving the money back to the taxpayers and dealing with any shortcomings at the end of the year. Time is running out.

Do the right thing: Give the taxpayers a break! George Levinson

Hamden