$95.3 Million Spending Package—

Voters Support A Budget

On Third Try

By Kendra Bobowick

Voters Tuesday ended the monthlong struggle to approve a town budget. The proposed $95,370,206 spending plan — a final reduction in a long line of cuts from the original $96.3 million — had won more supporters than opponents by the close of polls at 8 pm. The Legislative Council plans a meeting next week to set the mill rate.

Speaking the minds of many, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said, “I am happy the process is over.”

Board of Education member Paul Mangiafico said, “I knew it was going to be close, but it prevailed.”

Mr Rosenthal is both pleased and sympathetic toward all who voted.

“I am certainly happy to see the large turnout and appreciate all the people who did come to vote,” he said. Mr Rosenthal also knows that not all taxpayers favored the budget.

“I am sorry it was closely divided,” he said.

The Newtown Middle School gymnasium did not echo with voices raised in victory, or with sighs of defeat as moderators read aloud the numbers from the machines. Filling the humid evening instead was a quiet scratching of pencils as concerned residents, including education proponent Po Murray with WECAN, and officials Superintendent Evan Pitkoff and various town board and commission members, collectively reviewed figures scribbled in notebooks.

The budgets supporters outnumbered those in opposition by 192 votes, a margin that had varied in a narrow range since the first referendum April 25.

This week saw 2,630 Yes votes to a smaller sum of 2,438 No votes. The April vote ended with a 53-vote difference of 1,715 in favor, and 1,768 against the $96.3 proposal. That first referendum also saw the smallest voter turnout with a roughly one in five qualified taxpayers showing up at the polls. The next referendum presented a $295,000 cut in the overall number, as decided swiftly by the Legislative Council.

When the next referendum opened its doors on May 9, voters again turned down the reduced budget. A stronger showing by budget opponents widened the margin to 91 votes, and the budget was again rejected, this time by a vote of 2,350-2,259. By mid May, the Legislative Council made more severe cuts and dropped another $590,000 from the spending plan.

This week as voters endorsed the $95,370,206 sum by a 192-vote margin, with 5,068 taxpayers, roughly 33 percent, registering their votes at the polls.

Mr Rosenthal sees myriad reasons why residents may have at first been hesitant to support the budget. “There are a lot of things this year. People are always concerned and worry about property taxes and other increases. We are all upset about gasoline [prices]. The economy is not as great as it has been.”

Taking a moment to consider the financial positions of many taxpayers, he acknowledged the contrast between increased taxes and fixed incomes. “I feel for them as well,” he said.

Legislative Council Chairman Will Rodgers was pleased that the budget succeeded.

“I am glad this happened at a referendum and not at a town meeting,” he said.

Before the polls closed he was filled with apprehension that the reduced budget would still not find the support it needed from voters. Like Mr Rosenthal, he contemplated the reasons that voters were harder to please this year.

“I think this is due to the economy in large part,” he said.

He also senses that voters have been proceeding with caution saying, “I think there is a general wariness.”

Superintendent of School Evan Pitkoff said he was also pleased with the outcome of Tuesday’s vote, but he added that he sees much financial work ahead for the Board of Education.

“We’ve spent time [Wednesday] morning and will spend a lot more time reviewing the budget and our projected needs,” he said.

Describing the work ahead, he said, “We need to sort out what areas we will recommend to the board to reduce. I plan to meet with the principals to review their ideas as well.”

His department is ready to tackle its tasks.

“We are motivated to bring closure to next year’s budget. We’ve missed several weeks in the hiring process. We need to be able to offer contracts to fill vacancies,” Dr Pitkoff said.

 Newtown High School Principal Arlene Gottesman is also happy the budget finally won voter approval. “I am glad it was passed. Now we will have to look at the total amount of cuts. I am cautiously optimistic.”

(Education reporter Laurie Borst contributed to this article.)