THE CHAIRMAN'S CORNER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Justin R. Clark, Chairman
West Hartford Republican Town Committee
(860) 655-8374

West Hartford GOP Urges Town Council to Adopt Pro-Growth Budgeting

West Hartford, CT – April 23, 2008 – The Democrat majority on the town council on Tuesday night, by a party line vote, approved a $215.9 million municipal budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year. Justin Clark, Chairman of the West Hartford Republican Town Committee, was concerned about the impact of this year's budget on all citizens of West Hartford, especially working families and senior citizens. "I think we all agree that education and quality services are vital to the continued success of our town," said Mr. Clark. "For far too long, some folks have misled the public into believing that we are faced with a stark choice between higher taxes and better schools on the one hand and lower taxes and poorer schools on the other. History and common-sense tell us otherwise." Laying out classical economic principles, Mr. Clark noted that "if you tax something at too high a rate, investors and homeowners will leave town, resulting in an erosion of the tax base and ultimately lower tax revenues. It's Economics 101." He added that "[i]n order to continue to provide the level of service that the citizens of West Hartford have come to expect, we need to enact pro-growth tax policies that encourage people to invest in this town. The Democrats certainly haven't done that tonight."