Get Out And Vote

To the Editor:

This is a plea to all of the parents in town to get out and vote. Less than a third of all registered voters in Newtown took the two minutes necessary to vote at this week’s budget referendum. The budget was voted down by a vote of 2,624-2,538. In other words 2,624 people are deciding how much the town should be spending on schools, roads, town upkeep etc. They have cast the majority vote so, at this point, they are controlling the budget.

For any parent who has kids in the Newtown school system you know we are losing teachers to higher paying school districts, we are woefully short of space for the students in town today (just walk through the high school), the schools are in need of repair and our equipment is adequate at best. Newtown ranks 136th out of 166 districts in Connecticut on spending per student.

We can continue to debate this budget all we want but our kids are suffering. Use other forums to debate whether or not to fund office space or a new town hall. The resulting cuts from three failed budget referendums will be tough for the schools to contain. If you have kids in school get out and vote; there are no good excuses for not voting, our kids are counting on us.

George Zaruba

17 Ashford Lane, Newtown                                              May 22, 2007