Don’t Blame Higher Taxes On The School Budget

To the Editor:

While there has been much coverage of the 2003–2004 budget and changes to local property taxes, I think it has been an extremely difficult task to discern exactly what events are impacting these issues and why.

I have been able to attend many of the Board of Finance and town council meetings as they relate to the Board of Education budget and I would like to share what I have learned. It is important to note that the issues of the budget and changes to local property taxes are two distinct issues that need to be approached separately.

Changes to property taxes –– Because of changes in state laws, Connecticut towns are now required to revaluate properties every four years, not 10 years as in the past. The tax increase is a result of the revaluation and not because of the Board of Education budget.

Board of Education budget –– The increase in the Board of Education budget was due to a number of factors, but the primary reasons were the dramatic increase in fuel costs, annualized expenses to the Reed Intermediate School, increases to the special ed budget and an increase in our student population. Otherwise, the budget remains almost flat.

If we want to better contain our town spending, we should thoroughly examine all the contributing factors such as exploding residential development, open space preservation, and economic development, and resolve to find a combined, balanced solution to these issues.

To solve the immediate crisis, some of our citizens may feel that substantial cuts to the school budget will dramatically reduce their tax burden. This, simply, is not true. As a matter of fact, both the finance committee and the Board of Education were in agreement that for every $1 million cut from the budget, an estimated savings of $100 a year would be received by the average taxpayer –– less than $10 a month.

Aren’t our children worth that much?

Sincerely,

Elda M. Smith

17 Appleblossom Lane, Newtown                                   April 8, 2003