To The Editor:

On the back page of the September 11th Bee, I see an article with the smiling face of Comptroller Sean Scanlon announcing a $451.8 million General Fund surplus projection and one of $209.6 million for the Special Transportation Fund. This follows successive surpluses in both since, at least, 2024. The “Rainy Day Fund” is also at the budget cap of $4.48 billion with an additional $1.53 billion from a temporary additional source. If I were a stockholder in “The Connecticut State Corporation”, I would be thrilled that my company was doing so well and would be looking not only for a dividend but an increase as well. Others might demonstrate that the "Corporation" is making obscene profits off the backs of the workers (citizens). Since I am a taxpayer in this state, I consider myself an investor and look for a dividend of reduced taxes. How do I convince the state that it owes me something since these surpluses seem to indicate that they are overcharging me for the services I receive.

In that same issue, I read Representative Bolinsky’s letter explaining that the majority party in Hartford has not increased the Educational Cost Sharing formula in 13 years. This costs me more and more each year in Newtown property taxes to make up for this shortfall in state funding for our schools. If I want tax relief, I guess I just need to look in the direction of the Democrats in Hartford and ask them why they refuse to share the dollars we continually send them to build surpluses each year while I have to continually pay more to support my hometown.

I have and will continue to support Mitch Bolinsky as my State Representative. He serves on the state Education Committee and seems to be one of the lone legislators who understands how to return our state tax dollars to us in the form of tax relief by increasing the amount Hartford sends to schools in Newtown. That he has not been successful, well, it's easy to look up the names and party of those responsible. If I were a teacher, administrator, or school staffer of any kind, it just makes sense to reelect a voice on that committee who is on your side and the side of your union. I would also demand of those others on the Education Committee an explanation of why, with continued budget surpluses, they refuse to return some of those dollars to the towns in a meaningful way that benefits the voters who live in these towns.

Gary L. Sheehan

Newtown