Debt Service

To the Editor:

“The largest single item of increase is debt service in the amount of $626,000.” (First Selectman’s letter to Board of Finance 3/13/06).

Debt service expenses (“Budget,” 5/19/06 Col 3, The Newtown Bee) reports the principal and interest amounts due for previously issued municipal bonds and anticipated sale of municipal bonds in 2006-2007. Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects are chosen by the selectmen and Board of Education and approved for funding by the Board of Finance and the Legislative Council. Projects that cost at least 0.25 percent of the town budget (in 2005-2006 those costing at least $225,000) must be included in the CIP.

The CIP approved 1/18/06 is a five-year spending plan. Projects may be partly funded by the general fund or grants. All of the costs are estimates.

Selectmen’s priority, municipal approved: Open Space ($2 million), Commerce Tech Park ($2.95 million), fire trucks ($1.34 million), Senior Center expansion ($1.3 million), Police building renovations ($1.2 million).

Education priority, schools approved: high school addition ($25 million), middle school HVAC ($923,000), Sandy Hook HVAC ($2.43 million).

After the first referendum, the selectmen and the council cut Debt Service- Column 3. The cut appears to be referencing the eighth item: Bond Anticipatory Notes (BAN) to be issued 6/30/06) with interest of $47,500. That item was deleted but, voters have no way of knowing what project was deleted because no description is provided for the term “Improvement Bond” or BAN (6/30/06 and 12/15/06); exactly what we are borrowing for is a mystery. Other towns provide detailed data.

Over $7,430,624 million in FFH bonds have been sold, but are not identified under debt service. Thus, the questions arise.

1. What has been paid for at FFH? Will more bond money be needed?

2. Why did the High School Space Needs Committee meet for two years and no definite plans have emerged?

3. Why was the pool at Dickinson Park allowed to deteriorate and no replacement plans made?

4. Why have the selectmen decided Bridgeport Hall should become a town hall when its large open areas could be used by the Park and Recreation Department until the town can afford a new recreation center?

5. Why are we mothballing buildings at FFH — estimated $610,000 — that may never be used?

6. What plans are there for a new high school someday?

7. Why are we spending $330,000 for FFH security instead of hastening the demolition process?

8. If FFH is commercialized, will we be asked to buy land someplace else for a future elementary school?

Once approved, bond funds are sometimes used differently than expected such as the decision to divert funds to convert Bridgeport Hall into a town hall. Denying the Vintage Base Ball Group the use of the West Meadow without an explanation is another example of keeping citizens in the dark. Without more information, it will be difficult to win the support of voters for debt service expenditures.

Ruby Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook                           May 24, 2006