WETHERSFIELD - A Council Republican resolution opposing a car tax state Senate bill failed to gain the five votes needed to pass Monday night, as Democratic councilors look to other ways to impact the crafting of the tentative legislation, which has been met with bi-partisan skepticism in Wethersfield.

       The bill, proposed by Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, aims to set a uniform mill rate for automobiles in order to address the inconsistency of the current car tax system, as rates vary from town to town. A provision to pool municipal taxes at the state level and redistribute them was a primary concern for the bill’s detractors, but as of now it has been removed from the language.

       Mayor Paul Montinieri and Town Manager Jeff Bridges will be joining a subcommittee as a part of CRCOG in an effort to shape the writing of the bill--an avenue that Montinieri believes will be more effective in communicating local concerns regarding the proposal.

       â€�"Without any disrespect to this resolution, I think it’s [the subcommittee] a much more powerful way to get to where we want to be,” Montinieri said during a discussion held prior to the vote. â€�"My goal in waiting is to maximize our voice.”

       Democrats said that they were hesitant to vote also because of the fact that they did not have the language of the bill’s current version to look at.

       As Deputy Mayor Steve Barry was not at Monday night’s meeting, Montinieri and councilors Jeff Kotkin and Tony Martino abstained from the vote while councilors Mike Rell, Stathis Manousos, Donna Hemmann and Mike Hurley supported the resolution.

       Meanwhile, Republicans urged their counterparts to vote with them.

       â€�"The last thing we need is another commission to see if this makes sense,” Manousos said. â€�"Why not give our support [for the resolution] now and let our legislators know we won’t want that?”

       That was the message sent by a handful of residents that spoke out during the public hearing portion of the meeting. Most of the concern, however, addressed the provision regarding the pooling of car tax revenue at the state level--a component that councilors want to make sure does not make it back into the language.

       â€�"This tax is essential to many towns like to Wethersfield to balance their budgets,” said John Console, a Wethersfield resident and former council member. â€�"Towns would have to raise additional taxes. Towns such as Wethersfield would be supporting cities.”

       Opponents of the bill were also less than optimistic about the likelihood of the revenue actually making it back to municipalities in the event that other needs prompt a transfer of the funds.

       â€�"I didn’t think this was a good idea either,” said Wethersfield resident George Ruhe. â€�"Not that sharing largess is a problem, but sharing largess with all levels of government, with the idea that they will use it responsibly is another thing.”

       The new version proposes to pool sales taxes at the state level for redistribution-an effort to offset any revenue loss from the uniform car tax Mill Rate. For now, projections have Wethersfield netting extra revenue, although how much was not specified.

       Montinieri said that he is more optimistic, although cautiously, than before, and that it is at least worth finding out more. Others are more skeptical.

       â€�"Do you really think we’re going to get more money?” Manousos asked Democratic councilors.

       Wethersfield resident Rich Roberts expressed uneasiness about the formula itself, referring to it as a â€�"Frankenstein bill with a sales tax head sewed to the car tax body.” His concern is the instability of sales tax revenue.

       â€�"What you’re looking at is a move from reliance on an admittedly regressive, but stable--you control it--motor vehicle tax to an unstable and potentially volatile sales tax,” Roberts said.