Accuracy And Accountability

To the Editor:

The Newtown Board of Education’s arguments for voting against the proposed charter changes seem flawed. Board members argue that the changes would make their budget harder to prepare because it would require an initial draft to the Board of Finance earlier in the year and final action a month later than currently occurs. However, a major portion of Newtown’s school funding comes from actions of the State General Assembly, which doesn’t complete its budget until May or June.

The new charter timeline will, in fact, give Newtown’s School Board more accurate figures with which to work and will make the educational establishment more accountable to the town voters, via the Board of Finance. The new charter it seems will work very well for both town and school budgets...and the voter/taxpayers.

I’m voting for the charter changes...and I hope you will too.

Sincerely,

Mary Lincoln

18 North Branch Road, Newtown     October 31, 2001