To the Editor:

We have heard from a few elected officials supporting the Elimination of the Board of Finance. They suggest that the elimination will increase efficiency and accountability.

This leaves an important question unanswered, who benefits from the Charter Changes? The Legislative Council gains power by eliminating another elected Board. The reduced budget oversight may save some elected officials some time. The process might be sped up by a week. One less board to be criticized over budget decisions.

All these points benefit our elected officials, but hardly a word about any benefits to the taxpayers and Newtown Voters.

Maybe that’s because there really aren’t any. The budget will get less scrutiny. The voters will have less opportunity to provide their input with the elimination of the BOF. There has not been one suggestion that this will save the taxpayers money. Nor will it reduce the mil rate. The Legislative Council doesn’t say they have more financial expertise or more time to examine the budget requests.

So why exactly should the voters and taxpayers of Newtown vote to eliminate a Board which has played a key role in the Budget process, helped get Newtown a fantastic bond rating, an excellent audit report, and numerous budgets being approved with broad voter support. There simply is no benefit to the taxpayer.

I’m voting no.

Bruce W. Walczak

Newtown