Talk:Groton Long Point, Connecticut

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[edit] Groton Long Point is not a borough

See The Connecticut Register and Manual for a complete list of boroughs. Groton Long Point is neither there, nor in any other section of the State's own definitive document.

The Office of Legislative Research does refer to a Groton Long Point Association with some taxing powers similar to those of a borough.

I am taking these two to be reliable sources, altering this article accordingly, and deleting incorrect references in linking articles. Jd2718 14:10, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

While not usually called a borough, it has essentially the same government structure and municipal powers as a borough. The Census of Governments classifies it as one based on the municpal services it provides. --Polaron | Talk 15:18, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

See also this from the Census Bureau that indicates its treatment of Groton Long Point as an incorporated placeof type borough. Page 9 of [1] from the Town annual report states that there are two political subdivisions inside the town: the City of Groton and Groton Long Point. It seems clear that Groton Long Point is indeed a municipal corporation. Why it is not simply called a borough when it does exactly the same thing I don't know. --Polaron | Talk 15:30, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

The second source above OLR makes reference to Special Taxing Districts that Connecticut residents can form on their own. It explains, to the extent that anyone can, what exactly GLP is. At first blush, this might make it unlikely for any new boroughs to be formed in Connecticut. But I'd want to do or see further research before modifying the Boroughs of Connecticut article. For now, do my edits to this article accurately reflect what GLP and GLPA are?

As far as the Census Bureau, they do not incorporate places in Connecticut. Jd2718 15:34, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

The Town of Groton clearly classifies Groton Long Point as a "political subdivision" together with the City of Groton, and differentiates these two from the seven special taxing districts. I'll inquire with the Town and with the Secretary of the State about the municipal status of Groton Long Point. --Polaron | Talk 15:55, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

Our sources agree: it is an association with powers similar to those of a borough or a special taxing district. Jd2718 16:01, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

This is an interesting discussion. It seems that the GLPA itself does not want to be called a Borough but the Town Attorney is insisting on it. The issue is mainly about tax status. This quote is particularly reflective of the problem:

Councilor Wright was not convinced that Groton Long Point is a Borough. She says it is a full powered corporation with the powers of a Borough.

It seems that this debate is still ongoing. --Polaron | Talk 16:16, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

So, legally GLP is not a borough. However, functionally, boroughs, Groton Long Point Association, and Special Taxing Districts are equivalent? And there is ongoing debate about what the distinction means as far as taxes.

What would you think of

1. a brief paragraph at Connecticut boroughs explaining this,
2. specific language in this (Groton Long Point) article making this clear, in detail, but
3. leaving GLP off official municipality lists in other articles?

The Legislature appears to have intentionally fuzzied this one up. I wonder why they did not incorporate GLP as a borough back in 1921? Jd2718 16:44, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

Sounds like a good plan. I'll try and find out exactly how taxing districts differ from boroughs. --Polaron | Talk 03:49, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

"Political Subdivision," huh? IOW, we know it is something, but are not quite certain what. I think that's a pretty accurate description! I have some pretty good sources on this "special taxing district" business, which I can check tomorrow. Jd2718 04:53, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

Well, that is what the Town calls it in its Town Government Guide (see page 11 of [2]). Any clarification you can find in your soources regarding this would be really helpful. --Polaron | Talk 04:58, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

After this is thgoughtfully sorted out, the Demographics section needs editing, as it assumes borough, and categories associated with the article should be revised too. -- Yellowdesk 00:02, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

To Polaron I might add the Census Bureau is never a definitive source for municipalities classification, since the Bureau has a peculiar national statistical agenda that does not rely on the legal niceties and powers that the laws of the various states and territories grant to municipalities. This is the reason that New England town was first written up--confusion engendered by Census conflation and obfuscation. -- Yellowdesk 05:14, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sourcing

For the purposes of this article, a citation to the laws, or special act(s) that created the district are desriable. -- Yellowdesk 21:34, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Similar districts

Sounds like it's time for something like List of special tax districts in Connecticut, which would allow room for a more comprehensive discussion of the history of this kind of thing, the one-off special creations of the legislature, and the more routine version that can now be used to set up such districts. All for the purpose of having a full comparison among the various disctircts now in existence in CT. -- Yellowdesk 21:34, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

As the special tax districts are locally created, the list would be quite large, but carry very little information. Groton Long Point is in a special category of its own: created by an act of legislature, but not a borough. Jd2718 00:58, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

Should Connecticut#Local_government have several more sentences about legislatively created entities, and also about the more routine variety of tax districts? -- Yellowdesk 05:04, 20 February 2007 (UTC)