The Facts About What We're Hearing (Part 1)
The Facts About
What Weâre Hearing (Part 1)
To the Editor:
We know there are many competing pieces of information to deal with during budget time. Weâve put together the following to provide you with additional facts to allow you to make an informed decision before heading to the polls on Tuesday.
What weâre hearing...
The council is not listening.
Vote No, itâs too low. Send an e-mail to the council to say why you voted No and money will be added back to the education budget.
The facts...
As elected representatives, we are obligated to consider the entire constituency. The large delta in the first referendum resulted in a corresponding large adjustment. The second referendum failed by 77 votes. The council received about 170 e-mails detailing how people voted. If you assume (and this was not the case) that all of those e-mails said, âWe voted No because we want more money added back to the education budget,â then that would represent eight percent of the No voters. It stands to reason the balance of the No votes, 92 percent, are voting No for the traditional reason: reduce the budget. Do they need to send an e-mail in addition to casting their ballot in order for their No vote to count? Our actions are in line with the overwhelming majority. We believe we are listening.
Additional facts...
The council is made up of 12 individuals. The rule of the Legislative Council to add money back to a budget are dictated by town charter, and requires the supermajority of eight to vote in the affirmative. On May 16, the Legislative Council voted 11 to 1 against adding funds to the education budget (see motion: www.newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NewtownCT_LegCouncilMin/I037866E0.0/LC Mtg Motions 5-16-12.pdf).
What weâre hearing...
$12 million has been cut from the education budget in the last ten years.
The education budget is being unfairly targeted for reduction.
The facts...
The education budget has never been decreased year over year, and in fact has increased about eight percent in the last ten years. During the same time period, the municipal budget has increased one percent. The increase, or investment in our school budget, over the last ten years has been $36 million. If the $12 million in reductions to the request had not occurred, we would have increased the budget by $48 million. Additionally, this year-over-year increase in spending does not include any of the capital investments made, which include the Hawley School expansion, two expansions of the high school, renovating the middle school auditorium, reroofing the middle school, and the current Hawley HVAC project. Fortunately, due diligence has netted savings while still allowing a significant investment for our children.
All numbers have been confirmed through meeting minutes and in consultation with the town. This letter is from us and not the full council. It is in response to questions that weâve been asked. Please join us in supporting this budget on Tuesday, June 5.
For two more important facts, please see the letter (Part 2) by Kathy Fetchick.
Mary Ann Jacob
65 Mohawk Trail, Sandy Hook                                       May 30, 2012