well said Greg. just make me a promise, you become the chairman of the new board. if we dont have good people like you, the pain could be worse than it has to be.

I still have not read of anyone taking responsibility for or an accounting of MILLIONS of missing Taxpayer dollars. And yet, we are asked to swallow a large tax increase and put faith in the "new" leadership to be put in place? I am still trying to understand why we cannot all be under one "Fire District" as one Town and of course still have individual stations. It seems the other Districts have no problems with huge amounts of missing Taxpayer dollars.

Thank you!! I hope many CCFD taxpayers read this very carefully! I made a call yesterday questioning the "plan" that would keep all CCFD taxpayers "safe" as Representative Morgan states.....I was told there is NO plan...the plan that the chiefs submitted is only, as you stated, an "emergency plan" not a plan in the event of dissolution. The CCFD taxpayers need to think about what the other Coventry residents will do when they have to vote to approve their district to take part....that vote would probably fail....I ask CCFD taxpayers....would you vote to take on another district and most likely pay more in taxes? Why would you think they would vote to take us on? No one wants to pay more in taxes.....however as undesireable as it is....it is the right thing to do....pass this budget. It is the right thing for CCFD and for all other Coventry residents.

CFD could have come clean sometime ago, they didn't. They could have come together in good faith to correct it, they didn't & the Chief fled. The administration of the union needed to treat it as a business would, he didn't and he failed. A business would have made adjustments early when a problem comes to light, they waited till the ninth inning & their offering / remedy falls way short. There simply is a lack of trust, you can't blame the tax payers for that, and you can't believe a majority of our public officials. Unions show them the money and support then comes from their mouths. There should have been one meeting with all the true facts, and this could have been handled months ago. Who would want to buy a home or start or relocate to Coventry or Rhode Island ? Between the State & Coventry's corrupt politics our Town is gone.

People need to stop trying to go back. It is time to move ahead and fix this. There is no guarantee this new plan will even take place if the voters of the other districts reject taking us on. We dont know what our new tax rate will be if they do take us on. We will also be stuck with the debt. Like it or not, agree with it or not, the taxpayers of Central are going to pay one way or another. I would rather pay and have the services. Dissolving CCFD and then receiving my bill for the portion of the 3 million debt will really be a slap in the face. We need to approve this budget.

No trust ... Sorry folks ...

My fist question is why all politicians and officials have the time to advocate one way or another, but don't seem to find enough time to work on the questions many here have and resolve a long term plan. Does nobody value information gathering anymore? Is a 5 year budget beyond the abilities of these people?

This letter parallels almost exactly what Mr. Land has stated. Although I do appreciate at least a little information on the plan to pay back the debt. However, if there is such a concern about the approval for a combined district plan, shouldn't I be equally concerned about the potential approval of a two tiered tax. Likewise, I am sure the large volume of businesses in these parts will not provide any friction on a 2 tier tax to solely shoulder the debt.
This all needs to be part of the same, clear plan. Businesses, as well as residents, have the right to review the full plan and debate it accordingly. What happens if the two tier tax is voted down?
I know there is no good option here, and I appreciate Mr. Laboissonnaire's point of view, but as a representative, he (along with all the others who like their name in print) should also be digging for more information on our behalf, not advocating one position or another. Information is power enough and will speak for itself.

I want to know who (whom) made the error?
If it happened 3 years in a row, who covered it up for the first 2?
.
If it was not a cover up than the staff is incompetent and needs to go.
Simple

I also agee we should pass the budget.
.
>>>>>>BUT<<<<<<
We deserve to know who made the error.
And that person(s) should be fired

thank you for making all of those clarifications. this has been a very frustrating process to understand and follow.

@ Coventry voter-Jay......from what I understand, the error was made by the PREVIOUS tax collector and the chief (Seltzer) and board president (gerard) were told about it. Luckily, the chief, the tax collector, the treasurer, and the entire board are no longer part of the problem. The all jumped ship and left us with the pieces to pick up. Although I don't want more taxes, I do have enough common sense to realize that it is not the FF's to blame and we will be paying for the error whether we close the stations or keep them open. I have always been happy with my fire services and the last thing I want to see is them close. I will be voting YES to the budget. Let's get over all the politics and move on. All the previous players are gone. I was also told a 5 year plan was ordered by the courts but they need to pass the budget first to know whether CC will still be around. Vote YES. It's the right thing to do. Go after the previous players this year. Right now we don't have time for finger pointing.

You are all missing the point. We are being directed to lose focus on how Central Coventry got into this mess. Remember when a few years ago certain Fire Departments asked for our votes so they could consolidate and save us from what is happening now. They told us half truths then and still are continuing on that path. The reason that the budget has increased over the years is do to exuberant longevity increases, medical benefits and pension formulas. LET'S GET REAL!

Stacey, do you know this for a fact? I was told they have increased their co-pays for medical, reduced longevity, and the state sets the rate for the pension. Not the fire department.

Oh look another Coventry council person in the pocket of CCFD ! Give us a break millions of dollars in the hole and the union excepts us to pay it! The big question is and that noone has the BALLS the answer is where did it go! ?

You need to understand something. There is NO money to account for! It was a clerical error that never should have been put into the books. The town tax office transferred the information to the fire district tax office, as is the case for all of the other fire districts. The fire district tax collector then made an error in her tax billing by billing a property owned by Cambio at CONE for nearly 796K when in fact it should have been for 26K. She made the error, then she ended up leaving because of medical conditions (she is 70+). So the district assumed that they had 770K in additional tax dollars because the error was done in the same year the town completed the re-evaluation of all properties. During that time, a new and very inexperienced tax collector was hired. The same incorrect info was in the computer, and the same incorrect numbers were transmitted to the treasurer and the board to formulate a budget. However at the end of that year, they had a shortfall of 776K, plus the usual non-payment and late tax collection. Now that made a one million dollar deficit, which was really not there to begin with.

According to minutes from the Board meeting, the board requested concessions from the union and the union gave concessions. As the new tax collector and the board worked to collect what they thought was 1million in back taxes, they were only able to collect 300K (ish). The next budget year, a motion was made to level fund the budget and to keep the same rate and assessment as the previous year. This should have been ruled out-of-order by the Chairman because it violated the Charter, but he allowed it. Needing money because they were at the end of a budget year, the new tax collector sent the same exact tax bills, without any changes from the previous year because that is what the people voted on at the budget meeting. Because no changes to were technically made to the tax rate or assessment, the same bills were mailed and the same 796K tax bill was sent to Cambio. This makes two years in a row that an additional 776K was projected to come in.

The people want answers, but there are no answers because no one can find the problem. Concessions are made from the union for the second year in a row, but this time the union says no more concessions until you get an audit. No audit is ever ordered until July 2012 when Seltzer left and Gorman was acting Chief. Gorman signed the order for the Audit; he was then replaced by Baynes. Baynes arrives and immediately requests receivership protection because he discovers that there is no money to make payroll.
Flash to this October/December meetings, Budget and rates rejected, same tax bills go out with no change, same freaking error.
Receiver works with the Auditor and the Auditor or the receiver determine that the error was made in projecting tax income. It was overstated by 776K again. They look into it further and it was discovered that “a key stroke” error back in 2010 or 2011 was the issue, but because new data was not uploaded into the computers, it continued to stay in the system and regenerated the same bills and error for three years.

THE END!

WOW, so why they heck havent they told us this??? THANK YOU for telling us and FINALLY answering some of our questions!

so, the district had a 70 year old tax collector... running numbers.. working on computers and they didnt look over her shoulder??? what the heck is that about?

that does make the mistake a little more understandable however, im in my 50s and i know some people in their 70s that can barely feed themselves... let alone bill and keep track of millions.

so let me understand this, if your level funded, that means us taxpayers have to give you the same amount of money over the course of the year, correct? so, that means that you are entitled to collect 5 million (whatever that number was) just like you did last year... so what happens if my property value goes down? my rate goes up? if we approve a budget of 5 million, and my value goes down, then the rate will be adjusted to provide 5 million correct? its still the same 5 million as the previous year? so we would still get the same bill... ? that seems fair to me, i dont have an issue with that, if you send me the same bill i dont care how you get to that number as long as the money out of my pocket isnt higher..

Fact:Scare Tactic
Fact:More Scare Tactics
Fact:Blah Blah Blah
Fact:Lies and deceit
Fact:$3 plus million GONE
Fact:Few More Scare Tactics

Fact:Raise Taxes
Fact:Tax Payer on the hook
Fact:Tax Payer pays either way
Fact:No one accountable just the taxpayers

Yes Linda, you are right on. No matter how you crunch the rate or the assessment you received the same bill for the last three years in a row.

your rate will be $2.99 for the balance of this year, but with nothing figured in for the PAY DOWN OF DEBT, NOTHING FIGURED IN THE BUDGET FOR THE LAW SUITS PENDING, AND NOTHING FIGURED IN FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDED FIREMAN that will run out in the near future. there will be a large increase again in next years budget. I am very surprised Gregg that you speak to the hard working taxpayers and still give them bad information. They DO have a plan in case it is not approved and it will protect the people. I hope we can save the district, but under the terms that are being presented BY THE RECEIVER now it looks doubtful. The fireman are very dedciated hard working people, they most likely can be fit into a new department if the budget does not get approved. Who do you think would be the buyers of the equipment and real estate ? I only wish the receiver would propose a fair and honest budget to this district, so we could approve this.

Although she was 70(ish) she was very good at her job for many years. Unfortunately she made a MAJOR mistake that was never caught. She's a good person and I feel bad for her, she's devastated by this.

Gregg , you stated that the commercial tax will pay down the debt, if it is passed by the state leg. for a two tier tax. isn't that how we got in this problem in the first place , by telling the homeowners that we will tax commercial at a different rate and and now find out that we could not do that legally. The level funding was also told to the taxpayers wrongly. It is against the district charter to do that. The only way that you are going to get the two tier tax in place is by state leg approval. There is currently two different bills under consideration and neither one has been approved and the mood is uncertain at best. I hate to say it, but the homeowner will most likely foot the bill for the debt and that will be added to next year's budget, yet for an additional hike in the tax rate.

Brian- The legislation will pass. It's a no brainer. EVERY fire District in Coventry needs it to pass because they are in violation of State law as well. If the Bill does not pass, which is unlikely, each district in the state will face MAJOR tax increases to the residential rate payer. Remember that seven other fire districts in the state currently utilize the same taxing structure. The bills submitted were submitted because the special master and the judge requested the Coventry legislators’ to submit it. Rosemary Booth, the Director of Revenue also requested the legislation. So if the court appointed master, the Director of Revenue for the State, the local Representatives, and the judge are all on the same page and telling the state house that they need this to stabilize a residential tax increase, than the policy is made.

taxcollector- that is the kind of thinking that has got us in the mess we are now in. do not believe that with numbers (all the people you listed above ) that we will prevail And it is short sighted for anyone to believe that you can commercial tax your way out of this problem. The numbers just do not add up. Please do not give false hope to the many homeowners in this district that the commercial increase will carry us out of this problem and they will feel no pain in the process.

Brian- It's a good bill for our businesses as well. Today district businesses are taxed at a rate that is twice or three times as much as the residents. This bill will only allow for a 50% tax difference between each class. So the businesses will finally have some regulation and say for themselves. Again, it’s a no brainer.

How can a Union President be an Acting Chief??

taxcollector Where are you getting your information from ? The loans were made from a bank and credit union and they do not have to nor will they accept any less than 100 cents on the dollar. And if this special master is such a great negotiator why hasn't he got a lower tax rate for us from the onset? Remember he gets paid by the hour.

taxcollector - it seems that you have hopes of resolving this bad situation with the least amount of damage to the personal and the taxpayers. I agree with that. I only hope that the other parties in charge will try and present all the facts at the upcoming meeting and give the hard working taxpayers a fair presentation. You stated in a receivership or liquidation the creditors are entitled to whatever the court rules. I thought you did not want this to go into receivership. If they pass the budget, then it will not go into receivership, therefore no negotiating of the debt by the courts. I also believe that people are believing to much in the possibility that the state will pass a two tier tax, which I do not believe is a done deal for far. Coventry Fire District has already build in a single tax rate with there current budget and have already billed out as such. It can be done without all this doom and gloom that is flying around.

Brian- I do have hopes that all of this can be resolved with minimal impact to all parties. The master is in charge and whatever he presents is what he presents. Special Mastership is in fact a legal term used when an entity does not "fit the profile" to claim receivership or bankruptcy protection, as is the case in Central Coventry. So a judge can appoint a special master to act as a receiver. As a special master, all of the same powers are granted to the Master as would they be to a receiver, additionally the master has subpoena powers, which a receiver does not.
As for Coventry Fire District, you are absolutely INCORRECT with that information. CFD currently enjoys four classes of tax structure. They were recently questioned by local business owners at their budget meeting relating to the single rate system. The legal counsel, Judge Arthur Capaldi stated that they were maintaining the four classes of taxing until forced to change. The budget was presented to the taxpayers with the four classes and was adopted with such classes. Tax bills were sent and have four classifications. Their budget runs from December 1 to November 31. So they are 1 quarter into their new budget and they still have 4 classes of taxes. Residential, commercial, tangible, and Industrial.
Hopkins Hill FD has the same multi tiered tax system as CCFD. Western Coventry is the only District with a single rate, and has always had a single rate.

taxcollector - you are absolutely WRONG in regards to your facts about the tier tax in Coventry Fire District (Anthony). I pay taxes in that district as well as all the fire districts in Coventry. I paid my 1st quarter taxes and my commercial tax was changed to a single tier tax. I also had a conversation with Judge Arthur Capaldi about the credit back for the previous years of two tier tax and he stated that they were most likely going to credit the overcharged taxes from previous years back as a credit to future taxes, but nothing was final on that. You are correct about Hopkins Hill Fire Dept., in the two tier tax. They have stated that someone will have to hire a lawyer to enforce that. And I can tell you that will be coming very soon in a law suit, just as the recently filed law suit against ccfd.

taxcollector- you are absolutely WRONG in regards to your comments about the tiered tax for Coventry Fire District (Anthony) I pay taxes in Anthony fire district as well as all the other fire districts in Coventry. I paid my 1st quarter fire tax in Anthony and it used to be a commercial rate and now it is a single rate and not tiered. I also had a conversation with their lawyer and he stated that most likely they were going to credit all the back taxes that were incorrectly tax back to the commercial property owners in the form of a credit towards future tax bills, but nothing was final on the credits. You are correct in regards to Hopkins Hill Fire Dept, They stated that they will have to be sued in order for them to conform to the Albion Fire Dept court ruling. That will be coming very soon ( law suit) as the most recently filed law suit against ccfd.

Sounds like a fun place to live! Why are there soo many fire depts and districts? Do you really have that many fires? Do you really need that many fulltime firefighters? What happened to the volunteers? Did the Coventry FD get too big too fast?
Sorry, I don't live in Cov. just tring to understand....

I would have voted for there budget if the got rid of the union and gorman and all dept admin. Thats the problem bottom line.