Rein In Growth

To Keep Newtown Affordable

To the Editor:

Okay, so we’re faced with a ten percent budget increase with some taxpayers in line for a 30 percent boost in their annual property tax. What to do?

Has anyone considered a freeze in spending or –– dare I utter the words –– “spending cuts” to lessen the impact of the budget? I’m not talking just reducing the amount of new spending or finding money in reserve accounts to throw into the mix, but a true spending cut. Okay, there is nothing we can do about the state backing away from funding commitments or from imposing spending mandates on us either. So stop crying about it and trying to use it to justify this budget. Why is it that at the federal and state levels, budgets are cut, services sliced, or whole departments eliminated but consideration of similar actions locally are viewed as unacceptable? Instead we hear that services provided by the town are what the citizens “demand” and that they must be expanded every budget year too. Odd, I don’t see folks clamoring for the ten percent spending increase or for a 30 percent increase in their yearly tax bills (thanks to revaluation) if the budget remains as is.

Remember how commercial businesses shouldered a greater portion of the tax burden? Guess what? Commercial development at Fairfield Hills or on Commerce Road anticipated to shift a portion of the current tax burden (90 percent) borne by homeowners onto new businesses is not going to work either. Why? Because it would take huge amounts of development to have even a minor impact. Consider also, the added traffic on local roads as employees commute to these new businesses, or the impact on town services as they relocate here with their families.

Perhaps we should encourage development of more age restrictive housing in areas of town that can support such development? This kind of growth would enhance tax revenues, while having a minimal impact on town spending, particularly on the Board of Education side.

We must become more aggressive in providing funding for the purchase of open space and in acquiring properties. There should not be a race to see how many million-dollar playing fields can be built on each acquired parcel however. With each acquisition, there would be a loss of revenue as it is removed from the tax roles. This pales in comparison to the $10,000 a year it costs to transport, fund debt service, and educate a student in the school system if a new residence for a family with one school-age child were built.

Significantly bump-up permit fees on new residential construction, to bolster town coffers. The state doesn’t allow us to assess a surcharge on the “McMansions” being built, so how about imposing out-of-this-world fees with the money going to the open space kitty?

We must act swiftly and deliberately to rein in uncontrolled growth in spending and to keep Newtown affordable. Once achieved, then it truly will be Nicer in Newtown.

Dave Ruscoe

3 Steck Drive, Newtown                                               March 31, 2003