Date: Fri 01-Mar-1996

By KAAREN VALENTA

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

grants-state-Rowland

Full Text:

Town Officials Watch State Grants To Newtown Shrink

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Already assured of a drop in state funding, local officials are waiting to see

how the legislature reacts to the additional cuts that Governor John Rowland

proposed for the 1996-97 state budget.

The cuts are expected to decrease local funding for education even more than

had been anticipated in the second year of the biennial budget.

Most of the decrease will come in Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funds. ECS

funding for Newtown was scheduled to drop by $189,336 in 1996-97, but Gov

Rowland's proposed change in the funding formula would cut another $41,395,

for a total decrease of $230,731. This year Newtown received $4,247,641 in

ECS; Gov Rowland proposed $4,026,910 for next year.

He also proposed cutting more than $80,000 from the funding for student

transportation costs. The town expected to receive $189,089 next year in

public school transportation, an increase of $6,965 over this year, but Gov

Rowland proposed a cutting the funding to $111,513 instead. Similarly, instead

of increasing non-public school transportation funding from $18,912 to

$19,464, the governor recommended reducing it to $11,308.

The governor left untouched the $149,195 that the Board of Education is

scheduled to receive in special education excess costs, state agency placement

and Medicaid coordination, an amount that is up by $8,287.

Governor Rowland did not propose any change in PILOT (Payment in Lieu of

Taxes) funds which the town receives for state-owned property in Newtown

including Garner Correctional Institution and Fairfield Hills. According to

the biennial budget, the town will receive $1,132,119 in PILOT funds, an

increase of $35,196 over 1995-96.

The governor also did not change the $313,042 that Newtown is slated to

receive from the Mashantucket Pequot Fund. Last year Newtown received

$319,381.

No changes were proposed in the $143,532 promised from the Town Aid Road Fund

and the $186,262 in LOCIP (Local Capital Improvement) funding.

Any of these figures can change, however, until the state legislature adopts a

final budget which will go into effect with the next fiscal year on July 1.

Local officials can't wait for the state to make up its mind, however, because

the town charter requires the local budget to go to referendum on the fourth

Tuesday in April.

The Board of Education already has approved a $28.5 million budget for next

year. This budget, and the proposed $18.7 million municipal budget, will be

examined by Legislative Council in budget workshops in March. Any loss in

state funding will have to be made up either through local revenue or by

cutting the budget.

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

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 01-Mar-1996

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