When increased taxes are bad – increase government fees

March 31, 2009 | Steve McGough | |

Just like many American families, the State of Connecticut is battling a budget problem. You see, revenues are down and expenses are up. Unlike the government, families just can’t raise their fees to generate income.

Since increasing taxes has resulted in Tea Parties all over the country (bad karma for politicans), Governor M. Jodi Rell (R) has suggested increased fees across the board. For those of you new to the process, that is just another way to increase taxes. Details are available in the Governor’s Bill 837.

So, what fees do you increase?

  • Notary Public fees will be double or triple. The application fee alone is going from $60 to $120.
  • Need birth certificate information? Those fees double too.
  • Are you a nurse? Your fee just went from $100 to $200 per year. (Advanced practice RN fees go from $120 to $240 per year) We need more nurses, so it makes total sense to double their fees…
  • Looking to apply or renew your pistol permit? The fee will double from $70 to $140.
  • Are you a teacher looking for a certificate from the State Board of Education? Fees double from $100 to $200.
  • Is your town planning a public swimming pool? The commissioner of Public Health has to review the plans and charges you $600 – nope, now $675.

Fees are also going up for licensed day care providers, retail establishments who sell cigarettes, bingo establishments, changes to birth certificates, dentists, optometrists, funeral operations, youth camps, nursing home inspections, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and more – lots more!

In general, fees that were under $200 seem to have doubled or tripled and higher fees have gone up as well.

By the way, did you know that if you work in a horse stable and are an exercise boy, groom, stable foreman, hot walker, or outrider – whatever that is – your license fee went from $10 to $15?

Ridiculous! What kind of fee increases are planned in your town or state? Let us know in the comments below.

Hat tip to reader Carolyn B who let us know about the RN fees. It is important to note that the special interest lobby (God forbid) has brought many of these fee changes to light – not the media. My guess is Carolyn B was notified about the increases by an organization that represents her interests – one of those awful special interest lobbies.

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

5 Comments

  1. Carolyn B on March 31, 2009 at 5:44 am

    You are right on.  I was notified by my state AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetrical and Neonatal Nurses) representative.  Not even by the Connecticut Nurses Association (CNA) who went along with the last doubling of the fee last year (from $50/yr to $100/yr) because they wanted the funds used to promote nursing in the state.  Of course that didn't happen, it went straight to the general fund never to be seen again.



  2. Steve McGough on March 31, 2009 at 5:48 am

    Carolyn B notes:

    "That [RN] fee doubled last year form $50/yr to $100/yr and if passed would be 5 times what RNs in Mass. pay ($80/2 yrs) and 10 times what RNs in NY pay ($65/3 yrs)."



  3. Dimsdale on March 31, 2009 at 8:07 am

    Taxes, fees, what's the difference?  They are all ways for the government to confiscate your hard earned cash and give it to other politicians, hacks and nonproductive members of our society.  Look at how they are raising the rates for carry permits here in MA.  $50 to $100 on the last go around, and no reason to expect them not to go up again and again.

    And the best part of all?  These fees and charges are all passed onto US in the form of increased costs of products and services.  Look at how they whack up the price of Diesel fuel and transportation fees.  You might say, "ah, too bad, I drive a gasser.  That only affects those big trucks."   The real "too bad" part is that virtually everything you buy comes to you in those big trucks, and yes, you guessed it, they pass the increased costs onto you.

    I guess that's why they keep the "educational" system under their thumbs too: the unquestioning mind is a perfect Democrat.



  4. GaryInSoGlast on April 2, 2009 at 3:08 am


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