South Windsor Town Council Opposes Malloy's Car Tax Proposal

The South Windsor Town Council on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution that opposes Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal to eliminate the car tax or change the way in which it is calculated.

South Windsor receives between $5.9 million and $6.1 million in revenue from the car tax.

“[T]he Town Council of the Town of South Windsor feels such shift in revenues will only place a greater burden on the real property values,” the resolution states. “[S]uch burden will have a negative impact on residents and businesses located in the Town of South Windsor.”

Before the vote, several town councilors from both sides of the aisle joined in vocalizing their opposition to the governor’s proposal.

“[Eliminating the car tax] would have a negative impact to the community,” said Town Councilor Dr. Saud Anwar (D).

Town Councilor Kevin McCann (R) agreed, adding that he believed it was the “worst proposal” he has seen since he became a member of the council eight years ago.

Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano (R) said the proposal was “just wrong.”

“To put something out there like that without a solution for the towns is short-sighted by the governor,” Bazzano said.

Anwar, responding to McCann’s comment, that Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, made a similar proposal to Malloy’s in 2009.

Still, Mayor Tom Delnicki (R) said that he found it ironic that Malloy proposed eliminating the car tax after he opposed Rell’s proposal when Malloy was mayor of Stamford.

Delnicki said that he favored a law that would allow municipalities to phase out the car tax, if they chose to do so.

The resolution passed 6-0, with three councilors not present for the vote.