Date: Fri 19-Jan-1996

By KAAREN VALENTA

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

council-capital-projects

Full Text:

Council Gets A Capital Projects `Laundry List'

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Finance Director Benjamin Spragg presented Legislative Council Wednesday with

a list of $70 million in capital expenditures requested by town departments

for the next five years.

But Mr Spragg cautioned that the five-year Capital Improvement Plan is a

"laundry list" of all proposed capital projects. It is not a capital program

of projects that have been authorized by the council.

"It's a wish list, not a reality of what we can afford," said Council Chairman

Joseph Mahoney. "There are things on this list that have been kicking around

for years."

The plan, if completely implemented, could boost the tax rate by more than 6

mills and increase the town's net debt to nearly $2,500 per person.

The list includes school projects, such as an estimate of $27.9 million for

additions and renovations at the high school. It doesn't include the potential

need for an additional elementary school, Mr Spragg said.

The plan includes everything from replacement of an aging highway department

pickup truck to construction of a $2.5 million sports complex proposed by the

Parks & Recreation department.

Mr Spragg said he would like to see the council develop a serious five-year

capital plan which would include the financial impact of the projects.

"This would call for tough decisions, decisions which have been difficult to

make," he said. "Certainly the plan as it exists does not allow for us to

manage any long-term financing."

Mr Spragg admitted that "items of top priority are bound to come from out of

nowhere" but without a capital plan, "you never get beyond a laundry list."

"This (laundry list) is an acceptable product but we certainly could improve

it," he said.

As the plan exists, it does not show where the town will be in its capital

spending in the coming years, he pointed out. By waiting for each proposal to

come individually to the council, the earlier requests probably will more

likely to be funded even if, in the long run, they are not the town's top

priority, he said.

"I agree wholeheartedly with Ben," said Vice Chairman Melissa Pilchard. "If we

don't insist that the various departments, boards and commissions do planning,

and we don't plan, they won't take us seriously."

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Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

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The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 19-Jan-1996

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