Limiting Taxes

To the Editor

Hats off to the weather-brave trio: George Schmidt, Gary Svendsen, and Dan Kormanick, who spoke so well to their individual points of view at the March 23 Legislative Council meeting as reported by John Voket in The Newtown Bee of March 25. Another to Art Niedzielski for his Letter Hive piece [‘Educational Overkill’] in the April 1 issue. All regarding Newtown’s proposed tax/budget increase. These positions were all fairly stated, rational, pertinent, and constructive, with very valid observations and researched numbers to support their opposition to any budget/property tax increase. All of the above — a must-read for a realistic take on the proposed budget increases, the town’s, the school’s.

In particular, Mr Svendsen acknowledged, as reported, that young families who valued our educational program might have to leave due to high taxes, others might not be able to afford to relocate here for the same reason. School parents seem to create the “abuse fatigue” that Mr Schmidt referred to as being felt by the Finance Board or by anyone else who doesn’t support higher school spending. We all can understand that description based on experiences here, but the reality is that all age groups, all income levels reside here, and no one group should be favored so greatly as to jeopardize the affordability and the quality of life of another. I believe I’ve read that the town receives 20 to 25 cents of every tax dollar.

We all need to conserve not just in this era of tight finances, but always in all ways. We need to be more self-reliant than ever and more fair minded in regard to one another’s needs, especially when some have reached their financial resources limit. That limit is The Limit, and no one should be forced by a tax overburden to surpass their limit and loose their options. There are enough burdens otherwise.

We have a collective choice. Let’s be realistic and fair. No tax increase.

Elizabeth Lincoln

34 Echo Valley Road, Newtown                                     April 13, 2011