Time For A Sense

Of Community

To the Editor:

The second failure of the Newtown budget is the latest in a long string of victories by those who look upon all taxes as anathema. After all, as the popular Bush aphorism goes, “The money is yours, not the government’s.”

As usual, the education segment of the budget, always the lion’s share, is the major cause of the defeat. Although one can make a solid argument that property taxes should not be the basis for funding schools, consistently voting against every town budget is short-sighted and self-centered. Those who own homes in Newtown are similar in their reasons for living here. It’s a lovely and friendly place to live, and the property values are such that home ownership is a wise investment.

How does this relate to the Newtown education budget? To answer this, look at a nearby town. Bethel has an inviting and attractive downtown, is a suburb of a small thriving city, and, at first glance, seems to be an ideal area to own a home. It sounds like Newtown, doesn’t it? I know Bethel, I have friends in Bethel, and Bethel is no Newtown.

The Bethel budget battles and rejections are legendary. Now, there are those who will read this and think, “Good for them.” But a further look at a comparison of Newtown and Bethel uncovers an interesting tidbit regarding home prices. The average value of a home for sale in Newtown is 30 percent greater than one in Bethel. This is no coincidence. The excellent schools in Newtown have received more town support than the education program in Bethel. This has a direct effect on property values.

Finally, those who do not have children in school often say that they should not pay for education. After all, they don’t use the service. Does that mean that they should not pay for police and fire protection if they have not suffered a robbery or fire?

It’s time for us to have a sense of community, a sense of responsibility for others, and a sense of the simple logic of supporting our public schools. An educated citizenry is a cornerstone of a democracy, and goodness knows, our democracy in its current state needs all the help it can get.

John Zamary

147 Louis Hill Road, Sandy Hook                                     May 9, 2007