Sixteen Cents A Day

To the Editor:

 Sixteen cents a day.

That’s how much more it will cost the average homeowner in Newtown to keep the owner-operators in their school buses after their contract expires next year.

Yes, 16 cents a day.

Since the school administration is so determined to keep “feelings” and “politics” out of the bus transportation debate, and make cost the only consideration, I dug into that $500,000 figure School Business Manager Ronald Bienkowski promises could be saved if the owner-operators are kicked out of their seats.

The average property tax assessment in Newtown is $344,579, according to the assessor’s office. The tax rate as of July 1 will be 24.37 mills. That means the average homeowner’s tax bill next year will be $8,397.39.

Take Mr Bienkowski’s $500,000 out of the budget for bus transportation, and the average tax bill drops about $57 a year. Spread over 12 months, that’s $4.75 more per month to keep the owner-operators driving, or 16 cents a day if divided over 365 days.

Sixteen cents more to keep intact a system that has served Newtown well for over eight decades.

Sixteen cents more to preserve jobs for 30 of our hardworking neighbors and their families, and to ensure they keep paying taxes in Newtown.

Sixteen cents more to keep from having strangers drive our children to school.

Sixteen cents more to avoid a revolt in our community.

I could go on, but you get the point.

Sixteen cents a day. That’s what those at the helm of our school district say this debate comes down to. Sixteen cents.

I think the owner-operators are worth a whole lot more. I suspect most people in Newtown feel the same way.

Do you, Board of Education members?

Respectfully,

Chris Gardner

4 Mt Pleasant Terrace, Newtown                                  June 12, 2011