There Are Other Needs

Besides Education

To the Editor:

We have continued to polarize the citizens of this town again as the second budget referendum was defeated last week. It is disconcerting that those who are pro-education and those who are pro-town cannot find a happy medium. I agree with The Bee’s editorial comment about Dr Robinson’s comment that “inadequate funding for our schools” was a big concern of hers. Dr Robinson, what does “adequate” mean to you? Is it the teacher to student ratio; the equipment in the science labs, the volumes in the school libraries, the sports and arts programs? The list could go on and on. So once again, Dr Robinson, you have used fear as a motive for voters to turn down another proposed budget. I voted in favor of the first proposed budget as a hedge that we would not be renegotiating the budget with more money given back to the school system.

As a 25-year resident of Sandy Hook, I have had my two children educated in the Newtown school system, and as adults, they are doing well in their careers. Now as a retiree, I used to joke with my husband that at least the mortgage is paid off, and as long as we can afford the taxes, we will be able to stay in Newtown. Well, I have seen my fair share of tax increases over the years, and I have to say that in years past there was more openness on the part of the Board of Education with their budget requests and the needs that the school system had as a whole.

Over the past few years, it seems as though the Board of Education runs the budget in the town, negotiating teachers’ contracts in private, and incessantly screaming for the need for more funding. When is enough, enough? At some point we have to come together as a community and realize that our children are getting a quality education, and that there are other needs that have to be met in order for our town government to function. As a growing community, I do not think that we need to decrease the number of policemen in town; our roads are falling to ruin and need fixing, and where will that money come from? And in this time of recession with people losing their jobs and facing mortgage problems or foreclosure, this is not the time to see a big increase in taxes.

If the tax rate becomes too high, we will see an exodus of people who are retired and on fixed incomes and those of lower incomes. The number of volunteers in the library and social programs in town might be affected. Then the town will lose its diversity, which is something that has made Newtown the town that it is. Please let’s settle the budget on the third referendum, and let’s all work together as Newtowners for the betterment of us all and not the select few.

Sincerely,

Tamara Sturner

57 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Sandy Hook                       May 25, 2010