To the Editor:

For the first time in 13 years both Newtown budgets — municipal and education — failed at referendum. These results send a clear and unmistakable message to our leadership: increased spending without increased value is unsustainable for the people of Newtown.

Residents are being asked to tighten their belts while budgets expand. We were promised by the new administration that they would bring meaningful change and fiscal responsibility. Instead, the "change" we are experiencing consists of tax hikes paired with a declining student enrollment and other municipal services we rely on.

It is a frustrating paradox to pay more and to see less in return. Whether it is infrastructure maintenance, community programs, or school resources, the gap between what we contribute and what we see in return is widening. The referendum "No" vote isn't just about the numbers on a page; it is a vote of no confidence on a strategy that prioritizes spending over the long-term financial health of our town.

Our community is tired of being treated as an infinite source of revenue. It is time for the administration — both Municipal and Board of Education — to work with the Legislative Council and return to the drawing board and deliver a budget that respects the taxpayers’ reality — one that prioritizes essential services without placing an ever-increasing burden on the families and seniors who call Newtown home.

We were promised a new direction. It’s time for us to see it.

Jeff Capeci

Newtown