Balancing Services And Taxes

To the Editor:

I am writing to ask my fellow taxpayers to vote Yes on our budget referendum next Tuesday, May 15, at the middle school between 6 am and 8 pm. The following comments are my own and do not represent the council.

As a member of the Legislative Council, I have the duty of balancing the needs of the community and listening to the taxpayers as I weigh, with the other 11 members, what budget to send to you for approval. This year and last, we sent the budget to you for approval without making any reductions on the first round. Both years you rejected the budget and this year it failed by a margin that has not been seen since 2003.

I recognize there is a fine balance to be found between properly funding town services including education and mitigating the tax increases in this economic climate. I believe the reduction of $1 million that was made to the education request after you cast your votes at the polls walks that fine line. I ask for your support at the polls on May 15 to support the passage of this budget.

We now have a tax increase of 1.28 percent over the current budget. Further reductions that would be the result of a failed vote would begin to erode both town and school services. Please consider the values of the town you live in and what you expect for your taxes when you cast your ballot. Currently the tax increase would add $103 to an average tax bill of $8,000.

Last Monday night I participated in a budget forum with other elected leaders to answer frequently asked questions about the budget. Please take the time to visit the town website and view the video of the forum to answer any of your outstanding questions.

Speaking for myself, as a parent of children in the school system and a 15-year resident of this great town, I ask you to vote Yes.

Sincerely,

Mary Ann Jacob

65 Mohawk Trail, Sandy Hook                                      May 9, 2012