A Need For

Budget Information

To the Editor:

Thirteen years ago, my husband and I were happy to settle in to what seemed to be a community that was family-friendly and a community that would meet the educational needs of our children. My husband and I are both educators and we understand the value of quality education. It is clear that poor planning and inadequate funding are negatively affecting Newtown’s educational system.

For years, I have tried to understand the budget. The budget information is very confusing to many of us who cannot devote countless hours required to fully understand the information. For this reason, I rely on the town and education leaders to provide me with information so that I can make good decisions when it comes time to vote on the budget.

When I read the budget update distributed through the schools, I was pleased to see information that was clear, concise, relevant and easy to understand. It was very unsettling to read The Newtown Bee article accusing the superintendent’s budget update sent home in my children’s backpack as violating “the spirit of the law.” This article actually sparked my interest to read the budget update sheet more carefully and now I have a better understanding of the ramification of the Board of Finance’s cuts to the Board of Education budget. The reduced education budget will basically fund the status quo or less. 

I commend our superintendent for getting facts about the budget out to the public. It is unfortunate that Herb Rosenthal, Will Rodgers, and John Kortze would actually be against educating the public about the budget that they are approving. Many times, information seems to be not-so-straight-forward, allowing room for many interpretations that confuse people. Ultimately, many people just give up trying to understand, become apathetic and not even bother to vote during the April referendum.

We deserve more fact-based, clear and concise information. It is our right living in a democratic society where the constituents should be allowed to make informed choices for our children, our family, and our town. This can be done by first being provided with adequate information.

Perhaps with more information, more voters will turn out on April 24 and vote for the budget.

Betsy Hoyt

3 Founders Lane, Sandy Hook                                    March 28, 2007