To the Editor:

Our town is grappling with rising insurance costs, escalating contractual salaries, increasing energy expenses, the need for infrastructure maintenance, and a bevy of other costs. At the same time, our collection rates have declined, and we have lost critical state funding, all of which have created a perfect storm for our budgets.

We have been fortunate to benefit from minimal tax increases — averaging less than 1% annually for the past decade. In fact, there were two years in which there were no increases at all. While this might have seemed like a windfall at the time, it is important to recognize that this approach has proven to be unsustainable in the face of rising inflation and growing costs.

We’ve saved on tax increases, but in doing so, we failed to adequately build up our reserves. Now, we are left to confront a substantial fiscal shortfall that will require tough decisions. The Town budget has been as honed down as possible if we are not to lose services. The BOE budget would hurt our children if we don’t support at the referendum. I speak of “our children” as a member of this community — not only because I have four children who have graduated from this school system, but because I understand the profound value of supporting a strong education system for the future of all our kids.

I’ve heard arguments that there are efficiencies to be found in the Board of Education’s budget. As a business owner, I understand the value of finding efficiencies — both in small businesses and in large entities like our school system. However, there is a balance that must be struck. For example, if I ask one employee to take on the workload of two, I may see short-term gains, but if I push that employee to take on the work of three, the quality of the work will inevitably suffer. The same principle applies to our schools. There is a point where further cuts would undermine the very quality of education we are striving to provide.

Superintendent Uberti’s testimony made it clear that last year’s flat budget, combined with the adjustments already made by the Board of Education, has resulted in a very tight fiscal situation for our schools. Any additional cuts would destabilize the balance that has allowed us to maintain the high-quality education our community expects. To believe that further reductions will lead to greater efficiency or effectiveness in education is simply unrealistic.

My own children were the beneficiaries of the education offered in Newtown. Thanks to the solid foundation they received, they have gone on to pursue careers in journalism, computer programming, archaeology, and international relations. This success is not just theirs, but the success of our entire community. It is a reflection of the quality of the education system we have worked so hard to maintain. Let’s pay it forward. Vote “yes” on April 22.

Alex Villamil

Sandy Hook