A Look At The Big Picture

To the Editor:

Americans have lost on average 40 percent of their net worth in the last five years. Home values have caved 30 percent. Real unemployment stands at 12 percent and many of our private sector families have sacrificed greatly in order to pay their bills and keep their homes. Times are tough. And incredulously the administrators of Newtown’s budget can’t understand why the budget went down in flames for the hat trick of referendums. And laughably they want to adopt an advisory ballot question to ascertain whether we voted No because the budget number was too low. Would they request the same if we passed the budget the first time?  I have never met a taxpayer that wanted to pay more property taxes. No means No! No more spending, no more taxes.

Now, when was the last real decrease in education spending? Please no base line antics. When was the last time our citizens saw a decrease in their property taxes? Never!  The No votes are coming from homeowners disenfranchised with an all-powerful teachers union. Their platinum health care benefits and pensions will bankrupt Newtown as similar union actions have bankrupted the likes of Wisconsin, California, Greece, Spain, etc. Fortunately Wisconsin fought back and destroyed the union stranglehold, resulting in budget surpluses and property tax decreases.

My son has had many good teachers in the Newtown school system, but there comes a point where enough is enough on pay and benefit compensation. At what point do we say, “You’ve got more than enough from us.” I think we’ve reached that point. This is what a tax revolt looks like!

As a country we are 100 trillion dollars in debt in unfunded obligations. The USA for the first time in 200 years has had its credit rating downgraded. That’s what a Yes budget increase vote will get you.  Your kids and grandkids will be burdened with our reckless, impossible fiscal obligation to repay that debt.

So the next time you hear the budget must be increased for the sake of your children’s education, think of the debt load (and property taxes are a debt load) that will be heaped upon them.

I’d call that child abuse.

Our town’s credit rating won’t be enhanced by Yes votes. No votes will force the town to become more efficient, eliminating largesse within the system, in this case usury compensation packages for teachers and administrators. As a result, property taxes would decrease thereby increasing the value of homes and their resale value. The people of Newtown have figured out the game is up. No more spending for the “sake of the children.”  Uneducated Yes votes will bankrupt your budget, your state, and your country. You green shade bean counters that run this 100-million-dollar plus budget for Newtown really must reread the first sentence of this letter for the sake of the taxpayer and oh yes, the children. Keep voting No, the kids will be fine and will benefit greatly. 

Nick Barzetti

55 Flat Swamp Road, Newtown                                  June 18, 2012