A Status Quo Budget

To the Editor:

It’s that time of year again when hundreds of Newtown families have to worry about another town tax increase and where additional money is going to come from in what many financiers are referring to as a slow and sluggish economy. New home construction has not yet recovered, unemployment is still at an unacceptable high level, gas and heating oil is skyrocketing beyond belief, and yet our town council still puts out a proposed increased annual budget, resulting in repeated budget rejections at the polls.

Whether it’s the town administration or the school budget, many, many voters want a no-increase budget this year. For clarification purposes that means no dollar increases over last year.

So far this year, two referendums have already voted against increases with a third vote in the works. Let’s face facts, the economy is poor, people are nervous over what lies ahead. In my book, this situation calls for a status quo budget, no increase whatsoever. The town will survive as well as the education system, just tighten your belts a little as we are all doing.

If I could make just one recommendation, however, it would be for the town council to consider a split town budget, town administration and education separately. This might clear the air as to exactly where the voters want their tax money to go and might also speed up the overall voting process.

Robert B. Shaw

10 Stone Fence Lane, Newtown                                       May 28, 2012