A Fair And Responsible Budget

To the Editor:

A great deal of work has gone into the development of the school budget for the 2004-05 school year. This budget has been carefully reviewed and analyzed by the Board of Education, Board of Finance, and Legislative Council over the past several months. The Board of Education reduced the superintendent’s proposed budget by nearly a half million dollars and the Board of Finance reduced our request by an additional quarter million dollars in the process.

We have all worked together to present a budget that provides the school system with the resources that it needs while at the same time is responsive to the taxpayers of our town. As was indicated through the many hearings and deliberations that have taken place, this budget almost exclusively reflects the inflationary costs associated with our fixed obligations and the anticipated enrollment increase of 106 students to our school system for next year.

I believe this is a fair and responsible budget and urge all voters to support the school and town budget at the referendum to be held at the Newtown Middle School on Tuesday, April 27, from 6 am to 8 pm.

Sincerely,

Elaine McClure

Chairperson, Board of Education

32 Ashford Lane, Newtown                                            April 20, 2004