Members of the Legislative Council unanimously adopted a $121,626,535 town and school district budget package for the 2020-21 fiscal year during a virtual meeting, May 6.
Selectman Maureen Crick Owen has agreed to be Newtown’s appointed liaison to a statewide COVID-19 Long Term Recovery initiative as state officials began outlining plans to phase reopening state colleges and universities. Read this and more in today's update.
US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy wrote to the Director of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Michael Carvajal, demanding that he provide answers regarding the department’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak at the Danbury Federal Corrections facility.
Secretary of the State Denise Merrill has released the Connecticut plan for the August 11 primary and November 3 general elections in 2020 in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.
Governor Ned Lamont may have downplayed it at the top of his May 5 press briefing, but the fact that state COVID-19 hospitalizations increased for the first time in almost two weeks was not surprising to Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert. Learn why in our May 5 daily update.
Authorization for a significant amount of a costly emergency communication system upgrade may remain in the hands of voters if a proposal to split the project's bonding into two phases is embraced by the Legislative Council on May 6. Read on to learn more.
The voters certainly spoke — and I respect the outcome — but let’s not forget that a “majority” doesn’t mean everyone agreed. Many of us are deeply concerned about the rising cost of living here. Supporting schools and services is important, but so is ensuring that residents can afford to stay in the town they love.
We all want Newtown to be a great place to live, but lately, it’s starting to feel less like “Nicer in Newtown” and more like “More Expensive in Newtown.” That’s not sustainable, and it’s not a criticism of the town itself — it’s a call for responsible budgeting and long-term planning that doesn’t rely on tax increases year after year.
I hope future decisions will reflect not just the desire to maintain services, but also the need to ease the financial burden on residents.
I appreciate the passion behind this message, and I absolutely understand the desire to invest in our town. That said, I voted no — not because I don't care about Newtown, but because I do. Fiscal responsibility is not about ignoring problems, it’s about making sure we address them in a sustainable and transparent way.
It’s frustrating to feel like every year there’s a new “urgent” reason to raise taxes, with little serious effort to curb spending or prioritize needs. I worry this just sets the stage for another round of increases next year. That doesn't mean I’m against education, safety, or our town’s future — it means I believe in accountability and in asking tough questions about how our money is managed.
Voting no wasn't a rejection of Newtown — it was a call for more thoughtful, balanced leadership. I hope future conversations can include all perspectives, not just those willing to write a bigger check.
The voters spoke, loud and clear that they support our schools and municipal services. The majority vote was a mandate to keep delivering well rated education services and keep it" Nicer in Newtown."
Thank you LeReine, for speaking out about this. The list of public servants who are unfairly targeted for abuse just for doing their jobs has been growing. It is a testament to the power of propaganda that otherwise good and well-meaning people can get so emotional as to act out in this way.
