Are You Better Off Now?

To the Editor:

I always liked Ronald Reagan’s question, “Are you better off now than your were four years ago?” Translated to the present in Newtown that would be, “Are you better off now than you were ten years ago before Herb Rosenthal took office?” The answer can only be answered “Yes.” Some of us remember the administration that preceded First Selectman Herb Rosenthal. I’ll just leave it at that. Personally, I think it is easy to take for granted the good, solid, hard work of an elected public servant. Here are some facts that should not be taken for granted:

1. The education share of the budget has increased each year since Herb Rosenthal and Joe Bojnowski have been Selectmen — 76 percent of the total increase in spending;

2. The Board of Education budget has grown from 53 percent to 63 percent of the total annual budget;

3. Reed Intermediate School was completed;

4. Property tax relief to seniors has increased from $30,000 to nearly $1 million per year;

5. Newtown High School Design funding approved;

6. Addition to Senior Center is underway and planning for a new Senior Center at Fairfield Hills is ongoing;

7. High band emergency communication for police, fire, and ambulance was purchased to enhance public safety;

8. Treadwell was turfed;

9. Tilson is planned to be turfed 2008-2009;

10. Three new ball fields completed;

11. Agreement entered into with nonprofit 501 to build and operate a large recreation facility at Fairfield Hills, to include indoor track, three basketball courts, and an indoor soccer/lacrosse turf field;

12. More than $3.75 million taxpayer dollars was saved by securing numerous state and federal grants for town capital projects;

13. Sandy Hook Design District and Streetscape completed;

14. Fiscal responsibility increased Newtown’s bond rating twice in the last five years to AA2, saving projected millions of dollars, nearly a million to date.

I can think of a great deal more but space is limited. Fortunately, our first selectman, Herb Rosenthal’s, efforts weren’t. Good, solid, hard working public servant …thanks, Herb. Keep up the good work.

Respectfully submitted.

Jim Juliano

36 Hundred Acres Road, Newtown             September 19, 2007