What Does ‘No’ Mean?

To the Editor:

I would like to thank most of the Legislative Council for overcoming the “super majority” vote required to add money back to the budget. In particular, Fran Pennarola demonstrated that he was listening to the overwhelming majority of Newtown’s citizens that spoke out against reducing our education budget at last Wednesday’s [March 25] Legislative Council meeting. Within the article “Newtown Council OKs Budget With .99 Percent Tax Increase”, page 4, section A of the News-Times, Monday, March 30, 2009, Mr Pennarola stated, “I support an increase that voters would have to pay for now,” he said. “If $500,000 was added back into the budget, the effective increase per taxpayer would be about $35.”

However, the wheels on the bus started to fall off when later in the same article “…Financial Director Bob Tait said the percent increase from last year’s budget would be 1.37.” The article further stated that “Members expressed thoughts that they did not think the budget would pass if the increase was larger that one percent.” “Personally I think that increase is enough to sink this budget at referendum,” said council member Joe DiCandido.

Superintendent Janet Robinson expressed concern during the Legislative Council meeting that a vote of No could mean that Newtown’s citizens do not support the budget because they want to either “cut further or add money back.”

And either way the Legislative Council’s response to a No vote is to cut further.

So, under these circumstances, let me suggest that if some of you (council members) are “personally” worried that the budget will not pass, why not reflect on what the overwhelming majority of the citizens requested at this past Legislative Council meeting and add back more money to the budget. It might pass. After all, if $500,000 is only $35 per taxpayer and (saves three teachers’ jobs) think of what an increase of $1 million would cost each taxpayer to save six [teachers]. And, now that “our bus is beginning to roll again,” let’s think about making everyone happy by paying for the additional funds with the money saved by deferring any budget money allocated to the Fairfield Hills “money pit.”

You cannot stimulate an economy without investing in a better education for the hope of a better tomorrow!

Anthony DiVanno

43 Jo Mar Drive, Sandy Hook                                       March 31, 2009