Tough Times,

Tough Choices

To The Editor:

It’s very difficult to write a letter for publication in The Bee supporting the budget, because it’s not clear exactly what the end result will be. At this point, with the budget failing twice, a letter of support may be viewed as an interpretation that we are comfortable at the current level. But is the current level comfortable with the town? Unfortunately, there is no way to know that answer until after the budget is passed. Then we will know the answer.

However, between the Legislative Council and the Board of Finance, substantial reductions have been made to the requested increases and we are now at a point of inflection. Are the reductions enough or are more needed?

Only the voters can say, but consider this: The Board of Selectman made difficult choices, addressed the challenging times early on and originally submitted a budget with a slight reduction to the town. Since then, further reductions have been made to bring it well below the previous year’s level. The Board of Education finds themselves in a position of providing for an ever-growing student population. Dr Pitkoff, endeavoring to continue on the solid path established by his predecessor, presented a well-founded budget providing for what he viewed as the needs of the school system. The town government and the school system undoubtedly know their profession best, and we must listen to the requests and take care when we decide on the budget as voters.

The voters have now asked the town and school system to effectively compromise. They have made it quite clear that choices need to be made. The voters have not said that the product that the Board of Selectman and the Board of Education produces is inadequate. In fact it’s excellent. But that still leaves us with the choice, or compromise, at hand. It is our opinion, The Board of Finance, that to compromise, or more precisely put, reduce the budget more would create a scenario that would make both the town and school system enact changes that would in fact change the way the town operates. Those changes would be negative and to that end, alter the character of the town and the quality of life we all enjoy.

Three of the last four years the budget has failed on the first attempt. We, as town leaders need to listen closer and make better choices.

On behalf of the Board of Finance, we want to give you other options in the future. Although the voter can only vote Yes or No, perhaps we can provide some alternatives and information to enable that vote to be a little more clear to the individual pulling the lever.

This coming year, The Board of Finance will explore four issues with the end game being easier choices, better information and hopefully, a better outcome for all. The Board will explore significantly expanding elderly tax relief, fine tuning the budget process, identifying the impact and areas of economic development and substantially expanding the commitment to open space. It is our belief that all issues have pros and cons, and when talked about on their own, sometimes become larger than life. But if we talk about all four together, in concert, perhaps we can make a substantial impact in addressing the concerns from all circles.

At the least, we’ll flush out the issues with facts and numbers and the voters can decide.

We hear you and ask for your support on the budget. These are not easy times and we need to make tough decisions. The town has made very tough decisions on the budget and now ask the voters to cast a difficult Yes vote.

Respectfully,

The Board of Finance

Kelly Urso

Harry Waterbury

Mike Portnoy

Ken Freeston

Jim Gaston, Vice Chairman

John Kortze, Chairman

45 Main Street, Newtown                                              May 14, 2003