Support The Budget But Not The Spending Priorities

To the Editor:

I strongly support Newtown’s elected officials who dedicated themselves to bring us, the voters, a budget which has a very nominal increase. This budget should be passed because it is the right thing to do for Newtown in these difficult economic times. It is the best bottom line expense budget that we will get and it should be passed. Please vote Yes on April 28.

This is not, however, to say that I am pleased with some of the misplaced priorities represented in the budget. The budget is right, the priorities are wrong. The cuts to the education budget are excessive and have been driven by unwanted and unsupported municipal expenses, particularly those at Fairfield Hills. Our students are being asked to pay for our tough times. The damage we do to their education can never be undone. We can never make it up to those students who suffer under crowded conditions, higher class sizes, eliminated programs, and the reduction in special help struggling students need. They will be damaged beyond my comprehension because of our misplaced priorities in this proposed budget. We are better than this and we need to let our elected officials know this in November.

When I see $200,000 of taxpayer stimulus money being allocated to repaving Queen Street, or watch our politicians attending an open house at a new $11 million town hall that we can’t afford; when I see $500,000 of taxpayer dollars being spent on a new emergency management center with no voter approval, $500,000 spent to manage Fairfield Hills or the unapproved $3 million being spent to take down Greenwich Hall and parking lot, I will think of the damage we have done to our educational system and our young students who count on us today and in the future.

I am supporting this budget because it is in the best interest of the community. If it is defeated, no matter why, our elected officials are telling us they will further cut the education budget rather than delaying other municipal expenditures for a few years. They were not even willing to ask the voters, through a question on the referendum, if they think the education budget is too high or too low for fear that their misplaced priorities will be exposed. A Legislative Council member said in The Bee last week that the 12 members on the council will decide, not the voters. The only option that our elected officials have given us is to support the budget and get it passed; otherwise our students will pay the price. That’s intimidation, not a choice.

I will now focus my energies on electing like-minded leaders in November who support real change in our community. Leaders who represent the voters, who seek input and are accountable for their actions. I hope you will support the IPN candidates in November who share your priorities for more open and responsive government. It is the only choice our elected officials are giving you.

Bruce W. Walczak

12 Glover Avenue, Newtown                                           April 22, 2009