June 8 Referendum—

Third Budget Proposal Heads To The Voters

By John Voket

In a perfect world, Newtown officials would like to see every eligible taxpayer turn out to the middle school Tuesday, June 8, between 6 am and 8 pm to cast their vote on the third proposed $104,284,615 budget for 2010-2011. That way, whether the initiative passes or fails, there would be a clear delineation to help elected leaders understand what portion of the community felt proposed spending was too much, or just enough.

Unfortunately, with the average eligible voter turnout of around 25 percent for budget referenda, it is increasingly challenging, if not impossible, to determine exactly what message taxpayers are trying to send.

The second referendum, which failed by 97 votes on May 18, provided an even more convoluted outcome because that vote was likely influenced by a contingent of voters led primarily by elected officials from the Independent Party of Newtown (IPN), who urged voting No until the Legislative Council restored some funding to the school district’s requested budget.

Following that failed May 18 vote, the council restored $200,000 to the school district’s $67 million request for the next fiscal year. The motion to restore the school funds will shift $100,000 from the town-side budget’s contingency fund leaving municipal operations with $311,000 less for the next fiscal year than the town-side has available in the current budget.

The additional $100,000 added back to the school’s request will come from slightly increased taxation, nudging the tax increase that failed in the second referendum slightly higher. The latest proposal would increase proposed taxation in the coming year from 2.4 to 2.5 percent, if it is approved in the third round of voting June 8.

If the third round of voting is successful, the 2010-2011 spending plan will amount to $104,284,615.

IPN: Vote ‘Yes’

According to its Chairman Bruce Walczak, on May 25, the leadership of the IPN unanimously endorsed a statement that was provided to The Newtown Bee.

“The majority of our elected Legislative Council representatives from all three political parties sat down and, for the first time in this budget process, truly worked together, despite political differences, to arrive at a budget proposal that balances the various concerns and interests of our community as best it can. It deserves our support,” the statement reads.

“IPN joins our first selectman, our school superintendent, and the majority of both the Board of Education and the Republicans and the Democrats on the Legislative Council to urge all registered voters to support the Legislative Council’s restructured budget proposal and vote ‘Yes’ on June 8, either at the polls or by absentee ballot.”

First Selectman Pat Llodra said no matter what, she would like to see as many taxpayers as possible expressing their view of the proposed budget at the polls on June 8. Referring to the latest action by the council, Mrs Llodra said, the panel “in their action, tried as best they could to reach a compromise position.”

“The council extended an olive branch to those concerned with the level of [education] funding,” she said. “Now I think we need to get this passed.”

The first selectman said she is concerned that if this next round referendum fails, she has no idea what will happen, but she is concerned whatever further action that might be taken will have greater proportional affect on town services.

She also spoke to the “vote No to restore funds” initiative, and defended the council in its action to reduce taxation by cutting from the town side after the first budget failure, while freeing up additional savings that could be applied to the school district to save teachers and maintain class sizes.

“But then that failed, and the council struggled to interpret the meaning of that,” Mrs Llodra said. “By giving a little bit [more] back to the schools, I believe a lot of previous No voters will switch their vote to Yes.”

Increase Was ‘Balanced’

She added that the “slight increase in the bottom line” for taxpayers was balanced against those who advocated for the additional school support.

“Now the advocacy to vote No for more [money] has disappeared,” Mrs Llodra observed. “I know some still say [the restoration of $200,000] is insignificant, but they still recognize it as a compromise.”

By the same token, Mrs Llodra said she has been approached by some voters who previously voted Yes, who were changing their votes to No.

“Some are voting No to the increase in taxation, and others say they are voting No because they don’t want more money restored to the Board of Education.”

Mrs Llodra said the only way for officials to gain some insight into the minds of the taxpayers would be through a charter change that would permit advisory questions on the ballot. Currently the Newtown Charter provides for local questions, such as whether taxpayers support spending for a fire truck or a swimming pool, but Town Attorney David Grogins and officials at the state level have agreed there is no mechanism in Connecticut to permit advisory questions on a local ballot.

Mr Grogins has said his fear would be a single taxpayer could argue to overturn a local budget vote if they proved the advisory question unduly influenced the vote’s outcome, and the only way to avoid such a contingency would be to keep advisory questions off the local budget ballot.

Mrs Llodra said ultimately, it would be up to an appointed charter review panel to “elevate the discussion” on the advisory question matter. While another way to determine taxpayer support, or lack of it, in regard to either the school or town-side budget, would be to split or bifurcate the budget vote, Mrs Llodra believes such a practice “would only enhance division between the two entities and their respective supporters.

“In the end, I would defer to the charter commission, and ultimately the voters who would ultimately endorse any charter changes of that nature,” Mrs Llodra said.

According to Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia, and pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Sec. 7-6, any person who is a registered voter in the Town of Newtown or who is a US citizen who is assessed at least $1,000 for real estate or motor vehicles on the 2009 Grand List for the Town of Newtown is qualified to vote at the referendum.

Absentee ballots are available for the referendum during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. The town clerk’s office will have special hours on Saturday, June 5, from 9 am to noon for the sole purpose of absentee ballot voting on the budget question. 

Any further questions should be directed to the town clerk’s office at 203-270-4210.