The sales and property taxes tend to be regressive - poor people spend a larger portion of their incomes on taxable goods and housing than rich people and, therefore, pay out a larger fraction of their incomes in sales and property taxes. In recent years the income and sales tax bases have significantly outstripped the property tax base. This has resulted in a surplus at the state level and tightened municipal budgets. The state relies primarily on sales, income and business taxes to raise revenues. Municipalities rely on property taxes, state and federal aid, user fees, interest and investment income.
Towns pay for most of the cost of education.
Municipalities with neediest populations usually have the lowest per capita bases and the highest mill rates. The amounts shown for each category in the chart represent gross revenue figures. Watching Out for the Environment Linking Land Use to Water Quality Impervious surfaces collect and direct polluted run-off into our water resources thus hastening their degradation. This workshop investigates the relationship between impervious surfaces, urbanization and water quality. Land Use in Norwalk covers a wide range of committees and commissions, and Environment Committee co-chairmen Louise Golub and Diane Lauricella are looking for Leaguers who will attend monthly or bimonthly meetings as observers.