A Good Budget

To the Editor:

As a member of the Legislative Council, I had the privilege to consider and pass upon the budget that the voters will get to decide on Tuesday, April 22. I believe it is a good budget and deserves passage as submitted to the people. Given the serious ramifications to the school system and the quality of life in Newtown, I believe that further cuts would be detrimental far beyond the small benefit to the average taxpayer.

There is no question that revaluation has thrown a monkey wrench into the process. The town had no choice as state law mandated the revaluation. The one silver lining in the dark cloud of revaluation is that our car taxes will go down. Cars are treated like houses and are generally assessed at 70 percent of book value. With the projected 25 percent plus drop in the mill rate triggered by the real estate revaluation, car taxes will go down for every car owner. A taxpayer who paid $600 dollars in car taxes last year will see his or her bill go down to $450 or less. While it isn’t a tremendous saving, it does help offset the increase in residential property taxes.

As important as I believe passage of the budget to be, it is just as important that people get out and vote. There is ultimately very little that we as individuals can do to affect decisions at the state or national level. Congress can pass a budget with untold billions of dollars in deficits and we have no direct say. Not so in Newtown. Everyone in town has a stake in this budget and everyone has a voice. Let your voice be heard.

Francis G. Pennarola

17 Webster Place, Newtown       April 15, 2003