What Is Newtown’s Goal?

To the Editor:

There is a huge misperception that spending for Newtown students is spiraling out of control. I challenge those critics to carefully assess the budget binders and research the data available comparing the spending in Newtown with other towns in Connecticut. There are other objective reports such as the NEASC report that challenge the perception that Newtown spends an appropriate amount for our students.

I have also witnessed the superintendent, the Board of Education, the Board of Finance, and the Legislative Council members review the line items of the education budget in microscopic detail. They have all done their due diligence work to put before the Newtown residents a very sound fiscally responsible budget. Newtown is ranked 37 out of 169 towns for wealth but 138th for per pupil spending. This disparity in rank is due to years of fiscally conservative budgeting, and a tour of the middle school building would verify the consequences of this type of budgeting strategy. It costs Newtown about $10,000 to educate one average student. This amount is below the spending of other towns with similar demographics. The property tax of a home valued at $750,000 is about $10,000 per year, the cost to educate only one child.

If we continue to vote down the annual budget, we can predict that the quality of education will decrease significantly, which could result in the reduction of the market value of our homes. What is the goal for Newtown? Is it to become wealthier while remaining a bedroom community with low taxes and the lowest funding for education possible? We must make a commitment for quality of education and be willing to support the budget until a long-term strategic plan has been created to address the financial difficulties Newtown has been facing due to significant residential development. It is time for the residents to make a tough choice. Many towns in Connecticut are faced with similar choices and the towns that choose to pay for quality education have higher real estate values. Ridgefield had an increase of $4.6 million in general property taxes allowing them to appropriate $110.9 million with a 3.54 percent tax increase. Ridgefield has also recently spent $134 million to update its school buildings.

The real issue facing Newtown is the fact that the property owners bear the burden of funding 83.3 percent of the town and education budget. We are also feeling the trickle-down effect of the federal and state policies and the global economic factors. The real solution would be for Newtown to aggressively pursue increasing the revenue sources to fund the needs of Newtown via economic development and increased state and federal funding. We must also find solutions to assist those on fixed income. This will likely take years to resolve and it may require some dramatic changes including measures that may be very unpopular. Meanwhile, the residents of Newtown must make a choice to preserve the quality of education and services or pay the consequences. My hope is for the silent majority who wish to see progress in town to take a stance by making a choice that benefits our children and our town. 

Po Murray

38 Charter Ridge Drive, Sandy Hook                            May 16, 2006