What’s Best

For The Town

To the Editor:

It is time to give credit to the Newtown Legislative Council. Meeting one day after a second failed referendum, the council faced the task of revamping the town’s budget in hopes of turning it into a passable one with a majority of voters in a third referendum. The meeting contained the usual emotional pleas from people to “remember our children” and how important the schools are.

And to the council’s credit they listened.

The voters who took the time to join the council on Wednesday night were those who continue to support the Board of Education. And I don’t think it was a room full of “tax advocates.” Personally, I do not wish to pay any more taxes than I currently do and quite frankly if the teachers in the Newtown school system were going to see a substantial increase in their salary I would be on the other side fighting a tax increase. (I do believe that many of the teachers probably deserve a raise but in the current economic climate it is not realistic.) But it seems reasonable that a small tax increase may be warranted to keep classroom sizes smaller or to try to keep educational supplies at a current level. To sit and argue for a zero tax increase and believing there will be no consequences is a difficult argument. It may be why few choose to speak out at the meetings. When someone screams they do not want to pay new taxes — I’m with you. But while you’re at it, please show me how it is not going to affect the education system or some other town service.

The council did not give everything the BOE and the education supporters want. And the 1/10 of a percent increase in the tax rate over the second referendum, but still 4/10 percent below the initial budget, is not something to be “livid” about. It is three cents a day on a $10,000 tax bill.

What the council did was to try to bridge the gap in the divisiveness that the budget process created in this town. It is precisely what we expect from our elected officials, and they scored an A on Wednesday night in this regard. Maybe it is time to change the term from “education supporter” to “town supporter” because anyone who votes Yes for this budget is supporting the town. The ultimate goal of the Legislative Council is to present a budget that a majority (not all) voters will approve.

For those who were advocating a little more for the education side they should all remember “it ain’t over till it’s over.” There is still one more referendum and it is imperative that anyone who stayed away or voted No because the BOE budget was deemed inadequate should now return to the polls. Send the LC a message that you appreciate their willingness to do what is best for the town. Vote Yes.

Mark Mockovak

3 Nelson Lane, Newtown                                                  May 21, 2010