To the Editor:

I am writing to urge our town’s residents to vote in favor of the budget referendum on April 23, or by absentee ballot. I also want to address some Board of Education budget dynamics that have received attention in your publication and in letters to the editor.

There have been comments made that the Board of Education budget has increased too much and too rapidly relative to declining enrollment over the past eleven or twelve years. I encourage anyone who is interested in this issue to view the Board of Finance meeting on February 21 (newtown-ct.gov; the presentation materials are included in the meeting’s minutes). At the one hour twenty-six minute mark of that meeting, you will see my presentation and explanation of the following points:

1) While student enrollment in the district has declined since 2007, at that time, Newtown’s spending per student was at or near the bottom of its peers, and it was only in 2013 that spending per student approached the median of peers. 2) Since 2013, Newtown’s BOE budget has grown at a compounded rate of just 1.37 percent, compared to Newtown’s peers’ growth rate of 2.18 percent. 3) Newtown’s enrollment since 2013 has declined faster than our peers, roughly in line with the reduced budget growth rate. 4) Newtown’s spending on special education, included in the growth rates noted above, has grown faster than our peers — this funding is mandated and represents a critical investment in this segment of our students. 5) Newtown’s BOE budget growth rate, excluding mandated spending for special education, has been virtually flat from 2013-14 through 2017-18, and about three quarters of one percent through last year. 6) The BOE budget is largely driven by labor cost, and that growth rate has been modest, though higher than the overall budget growth (generally between two and 2.5 percent), and reflects an important investment in and recognition of the value of our teachers and administrators. Let’s also remember that there has been a focus since 2012 on providing resources for counseling and emotional support for our students.

The foregoing facts demonstrate a careful, reasonable, and proportionate response to declining enrollment. It is worth noting that throughout this year’s process, which includes line-by-line scrutiny by the Board of Finance and the Legislative Council and its subcommittees, none of those deliberations could identify clear opportunities for cuts to the BOE budget. The budgets as presented are lean, reasonable, and necessary to deliver on our mission and duty to provide the education and resources our children require.

Whether you agree with this analysis or not, I hope all of Newtown’s residents will vote, make your voices heard, and be part of the process. It is particularly important this year, as the timing for the vote on April 23 comes during holidays and just after spring break, and we are more at risk of low voter turnout. Allowing a small minority of voters to determine our town’s future should concern us all.

Steve Hinden

25 Horseshoe Ridge Road, Sandy Hook         April 9, 2019

Editor's note: Mr Hinden is an elected member of the Newtown Board of Finance.