Town Rejects

Proposed Budget

By Dottie Evans

The suspense is over, the votes have been tallied, and the results speak volumes.

A total of 4,250 voters, nearly 30 percent of Newtown’s 14,456 registered voters, came out Tuesday and voted 2,494 to 1,756 to reject the proposed $80.7 million 2003–2004 spending package.

A second referendum may be scheduled within 14 days but not less than ten days from the first.

Poll workers said the turnout was steady and quite good, especially in light of last year’s budget referendum that saw only 2,440 voters participating on the first round.

The margin of defeat –– 738 votes –– was decisive.

In a breakdown of numbers provided by Town Clerk Cindy Simon, there were a total of 4,148 registered voters who participated, including 46 absentee ballots, and 102 “Grand List voters” participating, people who own property but do not live in Newtown.

Knowing it would now fall to the Legislative Council to figure out what happened and why, as well as to act upon their deliberations, those who came to hear the results had many opinions about what might come next.

Gene Vetrano, speaking for the Support Our Schools organization, thought, “many people saw only the bottom line numbers.”

Parent Amy Cameron commented that there might have been confusion in people’s minds about what the effect of revaluation on their tax bills would be, but “they knew their taxes were going to go up, regardless.”

Realtor and parent Joan Salbu was disappointed in the result and said that actually, with no new programs slated and considering the estimated growth in student population, “the schools budget is not up that much.”

One elderly man had waited outside the Newtown Middle School polling place until the results were in. He offered his opinion but asked not to be identified, saying he thought the town was “polarized” on the budget issue. He expressed fear that people “were not going to be able to live in their homes any longer because of the high taxes. It has to stop somewhere.”

Superintendent of Newtown Schools Evan Pitkoff was hopeful that a repeat referendum would come out differently.

“Tomorrow night’s Legislative Council meeting [scheduled Wednesday, April 23] will determine the magnitude of what this means to the school system and to the town’s future. I’m hoping there will be only minor adjustments. Delays hurt the board’s ability to make decisions as to hiring people or setting class sizes.”

Newtown Schools Director of Business Ron Bienkowski commented tersely that he was “very disappointed” in the vote’s outcome.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Owen Carney said he was afraid that further cuts to the budget would be “painful.”

“I hope the taxpayers realize what they voted for,” Mr Carney said.

Board of Finance member Harry Waterbury said he also hoped for some sort of resolution at the Legislative Council meeting and Legislative Council Chairman Don Studley agreed, adding “but we aren’t going to be able to do it easily.”

“You don’t get a feel for a negative vote like this,” Mr Waterbury added.

Board of Education Chairman Elaine McClure was of the opinion that the effect of the townwide revaluation assessment on the budget had not been well explained, that there was still confusion among voters. She also said they would need to get out more voters in the next round who would support the budget.

“Whatever the Legislative Council does now, I know it will hurt –– but I hope it will not cripple –– our schools. Then we’ll bring it back to the town again. I don’t think this one vote is a mandate to ruin both the town and the school budgets,” Ms McClure said.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal thought the budget was defeated “for a variety of reasons.”

“As I’ve said before, it’s an unusual year. You have reval, the shift in the burden of taxation, and the loss of state revenues. Some people focus on one part of the budget, especially the percentage numbers,” Mr Rosenthal said.

“It’s always harder to get the people to vote Yes than it is for them to vote No. It’s up to the [Legislative] Council now. The voters have spoken clearly and it’s our job to respond. Whatever happens, we have to get out and do the best we can with what we’re given.”