By Steve Bigham

A larger-than-expected crowd turned out for Part II of the town’s annual budget hearing this past Saturday in the middle school auditorium.

About 40 residents were in attendance for the hearing, which was a continuation of the one held March 28. And once again, the tone of the meeting was mixed as residents spoke both for and against the town’s proposed $69 million budget.

“People spoke against the budget. However, the ratio was still three to one in favor of those who spoke in support of the budget,” noted council member Will Rodgers.

But the question still remains: will that ratio hold true at the referendum later this month? Council members admit they’re not so sure.

“It will at the very least be close. It may even fail,” noted Mr Rodgers.

“I’m not so sure,” added council member Peggy Baiad. “Our job is to listen to all the groups, but we have to think of the big picture, too. I have my doubts as to whether or not this budget will pass. If all the school people come out then maybe it will pass, but I know some school people who think it’s too high.”

One thing is for sure, council members say: if the budget does fail, there won’t likely be any confusion as to why. This proposed budget represents an increase of nearly three mills or 10.3 percent over the current budget.

“We’ll know it’s too high if it fails,” noted council chairman Pierre Rochman, who has been outspoken in his opposition to the proposal. He was one of just four council members to vote against the expensive plan.

If the budget does fail, Mr Rochman pledged to fight hard to ensure that that the cuts are not just cosmetic ones, such as putting large projects off until next year or simply re-estimating revenues to a higher number to lower the mill rate.

“I’ve stated that I hope this budget doesn’t pass. I think it’s a bad budget, and I’d like to get another shot at it,” Mr Rochman said.

But council member Brian White puts a different spin on the proposed budget. He, like many others, believes the time has come for Newtown to face its financial responsibilities.

“I think the council as a whole did a good job in trying to prepare a budget for the town. I know it’s a sharp increase, but the town has been shortsighted in the past in doing large capital projects. Now it’s time to face up to reality to get the town to where it needs to be,” he said.

Will the people of Newtown pass this budget?

“I think they will,” Mr White projected. “It’s a tough nut to chew, but I think they’ll see that there is a real need for it.”

Council member Donald Studley said he was surprised by all the negative comments at the public hearings.

“Personally, I wish we had some of that before the council approved it. I never had any negative input from anybody until the hearings. I think the budget is extremely high and not something I feel particularly good about, quite frankly,” Mr Studley said. “What people don’t fully realize is that this is only the beginning. Our taxes may increase at this rate for the next several years. While many people can afford it, there are a fair number who can’t.”

Public Comment

Barbara O’Connor of 36 Little Brook Lane opened last Saturday’s hearing by expressing her disappointment in council members for having “caved in to an unruly mob.” The Newtown resident was referring to the council’s decision to restore $500,000 to the budget upon the demands of a vocal group of school supporters.

Mike Iassogna of 42 Brookwood Drive was one of several residents who spoke in support of the budget. In addition, he said he takes exception about school supporters being part of a special interest group. He said parents are simply trying to do the best for their kids.

“The student population in Newtown has gone up 30 percent in 10 years. In the next five years it will go up another 25 percent,” Mr Iassogna said. “There will be 6,000 students by 2004. There have been an average of 200 new homes built in town each year since 1994 at a cost to the town of about $6,000 per student.”

Patty DuBuis fully supports the budget, saying she is concerned about overcrowded class sizes in the schools.

“We don’t want to pay more in taxes, but we think nothing of writing checks for dance, soccer, sports,” she said. “It adds up to $500 or $600 a year for dance. If it comes down to it, education is more important than dance.”

Mark Malia of 52 Great Ring Road said voting this budget down would is short-changing some segment of the school system.

Over the course of the two meetings, several residents commended the council for having the courage to pass a budget that addresses the town’s needs. Peter Alagna of 55 Head O’ Meadow Road called it hogwash.

“There’s nothing brave or courageous with looking at a wish list without an effort to make sense of the budget,” he said. “If you want to do something brave, make a goal of increasing not $3 million, but $1.5 million, which can be done without sacrificing education and the quality of life in this town.”

Gloria Riccio of 128 Taunton Hill Road says people can no longer afford to live in town. “I’ve paid for all your children through taxes and regret never having children of my own. We are not getting a better school system for the money,” she said, urging town officials to seek more funding from the state.

Ed Beck said he supports the budget, but believes things need to be done differently.

“We want great services and a great school system,” he said. “We are trying to do it from property taxes. We need to increase the economic base. Many senior citizens spent their whole lives contributing and now can’t afford the taxes. We need to offset taxes for them.”

The total proposed Board of Education budget is $40 million – up nearly 15 percent.