Two Reasons To Vote No

To the Editor:

I am voting No for this budget for two major reasons.

1. After the first budget defeat the Legislative Council reduced the school budget by $1 million dollars and did not reduce the town budget by even a penny. This is patently unfair, ignores prior history of splitting budget reductions between the education and municipal budgets 2/3-1/3, and penalizes the children for political reasons.

2. The town is increasing the savings account, called the undesignated fund balance, by $900,000: $700,000 as a result of refinancing current bonds, and another $200,000 by collecting tax revenues in excess of expenditures by $200,000. In addition they have established another savings account for future purchases. We should increase the fund, but the magnitude of this increase in not warranted, and not required.

The Legislative Council needs to propose a budget which meets the taxpayer’s demands of reducing taxes and provided value to the educational system. In short they need to give the taxpayer a reason to vote for the budget. This proposal does not meet that test. I am therefore voting No. Send us a budget that will unite the town and move us forward.

Bruce Walczak

12 Glover Avenue, Newtown                                             May 30, 2012