Private School Families

Deserve Tax Relief

To the Editor:

Thomas Gissen’s letter (August 31) on Newtown’s economic development and tax base was a balanced and intelligent discussion of critical issues in Newtown. I would like to offer an additional thought on his important insight that homeowners with two or more children generally do not pay enough taxes to cover the cost of their education. While that is true for public education families, it is not the case for homeowners whose children attend St Rose School, are home schooled, or attend other private schools. I am one of those homeowners.

As a group we certainly pay more then our share of taxes for the education of Newtown’s children. Most of us are pleased to lend our support. Education of children, as many other obligations of local government, is a financial burden we all share. We also share in its social benefit. We know that the quality of our community, both today and in the future, is closely tied to the quality of education all children receive. So we pay our taxes and take pride in Newtown’s fine school system that enhances our property values and increases civic pride.

However, it seems to me that it is also fair to recognize the subsidy private school parents provide public school systems through some form of tax credit at the state level. No one is looking for a free ride, but there is an unfair disparity that results from the current means of funding of public schools. Shouldn’t private school families, whose taxes and private tuition helps educate a broad base of children and provides additional community employment through private school staff and administration, receive some relief from the current inequity? Some object. They say I choose my bed, so sleep in it. I suppose there is some truth in that and the lack of fair relief will not change the personal judgment my family has made to send our children to St Rose School. But civic solidarity and fairness is not about getting what one can – it’s about a shared vision of community well being – the kind of vision private school families embrace in sharing the tax burden for public education. All we ask for is some adjustment in the current imbalance.

The relief we ask for is not at the expense of public education. Tax relief at the state level can be spread throughout a massive state budget. And at the end of the day, with a modest tax benefit, private school families will still be providing a subsidy to public schools. Please consider these comments the next time these issues comes up for public discussion.

Tom Davis

Horseshoe Ridge Road, Sandy Hook September 7, 2001