To the Editor:

As we ponder this new budget, it seems relevant that seniors in bordering towns like Ridgefield, Redding, Brookfield, New Milford, and other municipalities are planning to vote against approving their budgets for obvious reasons. It seems that seniors finally realize that it is becoming impossible for them to sustain their living expenses on fixed budgets using their savings and their flat Social Security payments.

Many seniors in Newtown have had to endure increased real estate taxes over the years with little or no senior tax relief for all resident seniors. While many attempts have been made in the last five years to offer an equitable tax relief for all seniors, the previous town leadership was unwilling to pass a program similar to the one passed in Ridgefield where all seniors received a substantial tax credit every year. In the last attempt to put forth a senior tax relief plan developed by the Finance Director Robert Taft, the town's Finance Committee voted unanimously against considering this reasonable equitable tax relief for the growing senior population. Yet the Board of Finance has this year added considerable expenditures to the new budget, many of which are questionable and unreasonable. The reality is that this "out of control spending mentality" has characterized this and many other previous town budgets. The budgetary thinking culture continues in Newtown, forcing many seniors to have to sell their homes or condos at a loss.

Now some seniors have to rethink whether we can sustain these yearly tax increases. But we have one vote and a message to send on the April 24 referendum. It is obvious that things will not change with Newtown's spending spree, considering the almost 2.35 percent increase in the school/town budget and an increase to 34.21 mill rate. Furthermore, the Board of Education has also added an additional $1,638,557 to the school budget.

I find it incredible that many of Newtown's operating departments think more spending is necessary, no matter the consequences. We must realize they have reached a tipping point as other towns have, putting extreme financial pressure on seniors. The situation has angered and energized different senior populations to vote down planned budgets. This serious disconnect between town spending and seniors' inability to sustain these increases could lead to a "Senior Tax Revolt." The reality that is ignored is that seniors contribute much financial support but receive little in return in terms of tax relief and critical services at a time when these are necessary to maintain a respectable quality of life. The time has come for Newtown's seniors to refute the town's justifications for these questionable tax increases.

This is the year we must send a message to all politicians and elected officials that they will have to learn to operate with "limited expenditures" similar to senior lifestyle decisions, which often have deprived seniors their new expenditures in order to pay real estate and other tax increases.

Send them a message that is long overdue!

Dr Rudy Magnan

60 Watkins Drive, Sandy Hook         April 17, 2018