Connecticut Could See Property Tax Hikes in Summer

Rell didn't immediately comment on the survey.

Cal Heminway, a member of Granby's board of education, said he and other local elected officials "are at the bottom of the food chain," fielding most of residents' concerns about their finances and quality of local services.

"We are the most accountable to the voters, and clearly that's been shown in the last couple of years as we've tried to fashion budgets," said Heminway, who is also president of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.

East Hartford Mayor Melody Currey, whose city is among those that does not yet anticipate raising taxes, said cuts in services and concessions from unions are the only factors making that possible.

"They're already making less next year than they made this year," she said of the workers. "We cannot ask our employees to do more, we cannot ask our citizens to do more."

Susan Kniep, president of the Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Associations, said that's exactly what's needed: Forcing unions to make more concessions at a time when many taxpayers are facing late bills, job losses and foreclosures.

"There's a lot of heartache going on throughout the country and certainly throughout the state of Connecticut, especially as we see the unemployment figures increase and people being forced out of their homes when they cannot pay the taxes they are already facing," Kniep said.

Rell has proposed suspending the binding arbitration process in labor negotiations from July 1, 2009, to July 1, 2011, which would require General Assembly approval.