A Thank You And A Plea

To My Friends and Fellow Newtowners:

Thanks to all for your kindness Monday evening. After the town meeting, I became dizzy with an upset stomach and profuse sweating. Fortunately, I had the help of friends, my son Jimmy, and Newtown Ambulance. Danbury Hospital diagnosed a vertigo inner ear virus or fluid imbalance that medicine readily resolves. I was released after only a few hours, much better now. Danbury Hospital said when you have that “lucky” trifecta of symptoms — dizziness, upset stomach, and sweating— you should get medical assistance promptly as another diagnosis could be a mini-stroke and matters escalate quickly.

Once again I’m reminded why it is Nicer in Newtown! Again, many, many thanks for everyone’s kind care and concern.

And, please remember to vote Tuesday, May 15. To my education friends, please vote Yes. I am certain the Legislative Council will only vote to reduce the budget further. I agree it is disappointingly low, but it will only get cut further if the budget fails. To those who want a zero increase in the education budget, in my opinion it’s already there. I, too, am not convinced there will be $400,000 in savings from the All-Star bus fiasco. We are already beginning to see it with Hawley School, and St Rose. Moreover, bus litigation costs continue to escalate. Practically, the $308,000 increase from last year’s school budget will be quickly eaten up next year. Practically, the school budget increase is zero.

Last November our town overwhelmingly elected the First Selectman Pat Llodra by more than 75 percent. She and the Board of Selectmen promised a zero to near zero town side increase. The increase is 0.45 percent. The promise has been kept. Bond rating agencies continue to tell us that to achieve top bond ratings, and save millions of dollars short and long term, our significantly underfunded reserve must be increased. Resultantly, the plan to add $400,000 to the reserve fund was included. That addition will only get us to eight percent, the bare minimum, and far below that of most other towns in our bond rating. Also of note, voting down a budget weighs against us with the bonding agencies, and may likely cost us millions of dollars if our rating is decreased or not increased. This is also expressly stated in the bond rating agency reports to Newtown.

In short, please vote Yes on Tuesday. Practically, the school budget increase is $0; further reductions will occur if the budget is again defeated. The town side promise of near zero increase was kept, and the $400,000 reserve fund should save us far more money in the relatively near- and long-term future. Another defeat of the budget has significant consequences, including the risk of jeopardizing our bond rating and potentially costing us millions of dollars in the near and distant future, as well.

Please vote Yes! Thank you.

Sincerely,

Jim Gaston, Sr

18 Main Street, Newtown                                              May 9, 2012