A Sleeping Giant Awakens

To the Editor:

It looks at long last a sleeping is awakening in Newtown as middle income and senior citizens are voting No to the never-ending increase in higher taxes in town. And I’m proud to say that I am one of them. These are hard times, Newtown government, people are out of work and more and more are being laid off every month. Many of us are on fixed incomes and when taxes go up we have to cut our spending somewhere. This is what Newtown has to learn to do if they really want to keep their middle income and seniors in town.

Just remember when one of these families moves out due to the high tax problem the house will, in all probability, be purchased by a family with two or more children, which will have a profound effect on the school population problem, resulting in more schools. An original school budget increase this year of over nine percent is just not acceptable. Yes it’s going to hurt to cut, but it can and must be done. Even after two taxpayer denials I doubt if the new budget increase figure will be in the three to four percent range where it should be.

Someone recently made the remark in the Bee that tax increases were justified because property values go up accordingly. Well, in my book, increased property values can’t pay bills or put food on the table. Let’s continue to be serious about this problem and vote the next proposal down if the cuts are not realistic enough to bring the rate down to an acceptable level. Someone also recently said that the last turn-down vote was at such a low level any further cuts should be minimal. I can’t buy that as I understand the overall number of No votes well exceeded 2,000 which I feel represents a substantial number of Newtowners. If the numbers aren’t right folks, vote them down again.

Robert B. Shaw

10 Stone Fence Lane, Newtown                                       May 14, 2003