Yes, IPN Does Understand Zero-Based Budgeting!

To the Editor:

This letter is in response to the letters in last week’s Bee regarding zero-based budgeting (ZBB). One of those letters set forth 21 questions directed at the Independent Party of Newtown (IPN). The answers to those questions can be found on IPN’s website at independentpartyofnewtown.com. Please note that this response was completed within a week, and it is this type of timely response citizens can expect from IPN candidates they elect on November 6 when they are serving in town government.

After reading the letters in last week’s Bee, I would like to clarify IPN’s position relating to ZBB. IPN’s overall objective relative to budgeting is to create a process that allows for the creation of a justified and transparent budget that the citizens of Newtown can understand, challenge, and can ultimately feel assured that their tax dollars are being spent as effectively and efficiently as possible. (Feel free to review our campaign platform at independentpartyofnewtown.com.)

While ZBB is a common method to meet such an objective and some IPN members support some form of ZBB, IPN is open to review any alternative solutions that would meet its overall objective. To this end, IPN members would be happy to meet with the vice chairperson of the Board of Finance who has expressed concerns on this topic and any other Board of Finance member, particularly those who have experience overseeing the budgeting process of a corporation with a more than $100 million annual operating expense budget.

It should also be clarified that IPN’s objective in improving the budgeting process is not to seek drastic cuts as one of last week’s letters asserted. IPN feels that by making the budget process more transparent, better proposals will be made as to the priority of where funds should be allocated and such proposals can be clearly communicated to the citizens for their ultimate approval. Any proposed budget cuts or increases would be the result of a thoughtful, strategic approach to analyzing the true needs of the town.

We are pleased to see the IPN platform is being reviewed, discussed, and debated. That is what a government by the people is all about and IPN welcomes the comments and suggestions of all citizens of Newtown. We are hoping that the authors of the letters are open to exploring both old and new methods of budgeting to be more efficient in providing necessary services to Newtown residents. With many failed referenda in the last five years, we believe it is time to evaluate alternative methods to be able to justify our spending.

 Albert P. Roznicki­

Candidate for Legislative Council, District 1

169 Hanover Road, Newtown                                  October 17, 2007