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Numbers Tell The StoryOf Newtown's Growth

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Numbers Tell The Story

Of Newtown’s Growth

By Steve Bigham

Newtown has reached an all-time high in terms of its growth and the proof is in the numbers. Recently released figures shed new light on how the steady stream of new residents has affected the community’s demographics.

As of June 30, 2000, Newtown’s population had risen beyond the 24,000 mark and that growth is reflected in many other areas. For example, the school enrollment is nearing the 5,000 student mark, an increase of nearly 1,400 students in the past 10 years. The Board of Education now employs 578 staff members.

The town’s general government is now 105 men and women strong. In addition, there are 37 police officers, 225 volunteer firefighters, and 60 emergency medical technicians.

Inflation and revaluation notwithstanding, the town’s taxable property has almost doubled in the past 10 years. In 1991, the assessed real estate value in Newtown was $816 million. Today, that figure has jumped to $1.4 billion. Ten years ago, the assessed value of all motor vehicles in Newtown was $66.2 million. As of this past year, that number had jumped to $140 million.

Since 1991, assessed residential property values have jumped from $674 million to $1.2 billion, an increase of nearly 100 percent. Over that same period, commercial and industrial assessed values have jumped from $94.3 million to $145.7 million, an increase of just over 50 percent.

 Of course, the growth has also prompted increased costs to the town and taxpayer. What was a $35.3 million town budget in 1991 has ballooned to $66.9 million this year, and next year’s budget is sure to approach the $70 million mark. More than half of that cost stemmed from a $40 million Board of Education budget, which, just 10 years ago, cost the town $22.4 million.

During the past 10 years, the Parks & Recreation budget has more than doubled (from $521,357 to more than a million dollars), as has the budget for Public Works, although part of that increase is due to the town’s new policy of not borrowing money to fix its roads.

During that time, the bonded debt per capita rose from $739 to $1,992, which reflects the growing number of large projects done in recent years; sewers, schools, library, etc. The ratio of net debt service to general fund expenditures (the annual town budget) has gone up from 5.8 percent to 7.2 percent. However, it is important to note that Newtown’s bond rating was recently upgraded, indicating that the town’s finances are in good shape.

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