On The Budget

To the Editor:

We are not satisfied with the 2009-2010 budget as approved by the Legislative Council and other government bodies. We have concerns about inadequate funding for education and important town services, and question the continued practice by our Board of Selectmen to find ways to commit money to Fairfield Hills while side-stepping public approvals.

We thought we had found a reasonable solution to this year’s budget. We proposed using an additional $600,000 from the unreserved undesignated fund balance of the town to reduce the size of the proposed cuts to the education budget. This would have provided a tax increase of 0.83 percent as proposed by the Board of Finance. It also would have avoided significant teacher layoffs and impacts to important programs and services. Of course, these funds would need to be replaced in future years and we would need a disciplined plan to do so. However, we felt in light of the significant economic crisis we face as a nation and a state, this would be a reasonable approach that would tide us through the year while more thoughtful planning on this issue could be undertaken and other revenues might be realized, such as from the refinancing of bonds, with possible savings of $450,000.

We voted for the version of the budget that was ultimately approved by the Legislative Council because it was the best we were going to get with the current group of public officials. We will be voting Yes at the budget referendum for the same reason, and we urge all town residents to vote Yes as well. Why? No matter how many times you exercise your right to vote against the budget, it will not persuade the majority of our current elected officials to change misplaced priorities, to adequately increase funding for education, or change the failed policies at Fairfield Hills. Only our, and your, vote on Election Day can make that happen.

We urge all of you angry about this year’s budget process to focus your energies on electing leaders in November who support your point of view on these issues. Only then will real change take place in our community. The Independent Party of Newtown is trying to be an agent of change. All we need are more like-minded elected officials to join those of us now representing IPN in town government to make real change happen. We hope you will consider supporting IPN candidates when they are on the ballot in November.

Gary Davis and Po Murray

Legislative Council District 2

23 and 38 Charter Ridge Drive, Sandy Hook              April 22, 2009