Taxpayer Events

Budget Referendum - Thursday, May 17, 2012
Polls will be open from 6AM to 8PM

Municipal Center, 1 School Street, Bethel CT

check out Home Page for more budget info

The referendum falls on the last day of St. Mary's Carnival, which takes place on the front lawn of the Municipal Center. At the Town Meeting on May 7, residents expressed concern that the extra activity, traffic, lights and crowds from the fair could create a problem for the elderly and those who have issues getting around.

The First Selectman and Town Clerk Lisa Bergh have promised that there will be extra signage and that the rear parking lot will be reserved for voters only. Please contact the BAC if you have any concerns about accessing the polls to give us an opportunity to help if you need assistance.

Other State and Local Taxpayer News, Events, Rallies, Marches and Fundraisers

Protesters demonstrate opposition to First Selectman Knickerbocker's push to raze the Old Town Hall building for Library parking!

John Opinski was dressed as George Washington and held a flag at a Bethel Action Committee rally Monday -- Presidents Day -- in downtown Bethel. The event was to protest the Board of Selectmen's plan to tear down the brick former town hall and make a parking lot on the site for library patrons and people shopping along Greenwood Avenue.

Organizer Billy Michael brought a guitar to make his point in song. He bought a bullhorn for the occasion, which Charles Steck, a former first selectman, used to express his opinion to the gathered crowd. The Bethel Action Committee wants the building to be sold and put back on the tax rolls.

Billy Michael is interviewed by Bruce Sinnick on The Brookfield Public Advocate!
Click to watch: | Part 1 | Part 2 |

DATELINE - Bethel - June 2011:

Bethel finance board wants to end payroll deduction of union dues
Following a unanimous nonbinding motion by the Bethel Board of Finance to collect and distribute union dues, the topic has appeared on the agenda at a recent Board of Education meeting.

Click here to read more about this landmark motion - the first in Connecticut history - spearheaded by BAC Chairman Billy Michael and Independent Party Chairman Dr. Robert Fand.

On Saturday, July 9, 2011 BAC president Billy Michael attended an executive meeting of the Federation of Connecticut Taxpayers Organizations. The meeting was hosted by FCTO President Susan Kniep, former Mayor of East Hartford. Mr. Michael was invited to inform the group about a recent Bethel Board of Finance’s recent vote for the Town to stop collecting dues for employee unions via payroll withholding. This means that Town employees would write their own checks for dues or have money deducted by their bank, rather than town staff arranging the payment.

Billy Michael with former East Hartford CT Mayor Susan Kniep

Billy Michael with retired CT Assistant Superintendent Armand Fusco

Dr. Armand Fusco new book to be published soon

Armand Fusco, author of School Corruption: Betrayal of Children and the Public Trust, has written a new book. Dr. Fusco, who serves on the Board of FCTO, is also the author of several manuals which he developed for use by taxpayers: Citizen Audit Committees: Providing Oversight to Achieve Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness of School Resources, and School District: Accountability, Transparency and Participation Index.

Both publications, as well as information on the new book can be obtained by Dr. Fusco by contacting him at fusco.a@comcast.net.

“The power to tax is the power to destroy.” ~ John Marshall, 1819

Together we can limit the sze and cost of local government!

BETHEL, Connecticut

BAC's 25-YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

MESOPOTAMIA ACTION COMMITTEE?