Defining ‘Long Term’

To the Editor:

At the Board of Education public forum on high school space needs, many have expressed that a “long-term” solution is necessary to adequately address the high school space needs. I believe that we must first define what is meant by “long-term” prior to making a decision on the solution.

1. Does long-term mean we need to address the overcrowding at the high school only?

2. Does long-term mean we need to look at the future maintenance and enrollment needs of our middle school and elementary schools?

3. Does long-term mean we need to consider the space needs of the town as a whole including office space, recreational space, space for our seniors, and space for special education?

4. Does long-term mean we need to reserve an appropriate amount of land required for new schools to address the impending increase in enrollment (we have 11,000 acres available for development)?

5. Does long-term mean we need to have a strategic plan beyond the five-year Capital Improvement Plan with clear objectives, timeline, and methods to fund the needed municipal and educational projects?

6. Does long-term mean we need to consider the cost-effectiveness of building now rather than later?

7. Does long-term mean we need to assess the future demographic changes of Newtown and its impact on the amount of state reimbursement for education and future building projects?

Once “long-term” is clearly defined collaboratively by our town leaders, we can proceed to make a sound decision on the solution. I believe that the definition of “long-term” should encompass all of the above considerations and we need to figure out how we can fund the numerous needs of Newtown. I am in favor of having adequate municipal services with an appropriate emergency response system and safe roads, providing adequate tax relief to those disadvantaged by the current system of funding of municipalities, having a quality educational system, improving the quality of life in Newtown, and being proactive rather than reactive.

I believe that we can do better by working harder to increase our nonresidential tax base with careful but aggressive economic development, by pursuing increased state funding for municipal and educational needs, and by pursuing property tax reform. Connecticut pays 77 percent more property tax than the national average (second highest amount in the United States). Newtown’s financial difficulties will continue as long as our federal and state governments do not adequately share the burden of providing adequate funds for our municipality. Mr Rosenthal reported at the February 1 Legislative Council meeting that Newtown would lose $452,000 in state aid for municipal needs this fiscal year. Governor Rell has not made a commitment to increase funding for education as of yet. Unless we can figure out how to increase our town revenue to fund the municipal and educational needs of Newtown, the burden on our local government and the Newtown residents will be endless and Newtown will continue to be reactive and remain divided.

Po Murray

38 Charter Ridge Drive, Sandy Hook                    February 13, 2006