To the Editor:The Newtown Bee reports on March 22 meeting: "Legislative Council Holds Brief Hearing, Discusses Budget 'What Ifs'."

I am convinced that Governor Malloy's "train wreck" is here now. It is too late for "What Ifs."

Newtown will face a $10.8 million 2017-2018 budget problem:

*$5.0 million reduction in state aid:

*$3.9 million increase for teacher pension going to $7.8 million in the second year.

*$1.9 million town proposed increase.

What was discussed at the council meeting?

*Only a $2.5 to $3 million decrease in revenue.

*Schools cannot reduce spending under state law.

*State, by law, cannot mandate a town teacher pension contribution.

*Let's not make cuts in anticipation of state revenue reductions.

*Put the budget to the voters to decide.

*Town has $10 million fund to offset budget inflation.

*Considering six capital requests.

*Consider additional debt, dipping into the reserve, increasing mill rate.

What's being ignored?

*This is a multiyear train wreck that will only get worse.

*$10 million reserve will be gone in little more than one year.

*Increasing the mill rate cannot be the primary option.

*Legislation will be passed to enable state financial problems to be driven to towns including teacher pensions and lowering education expenditures.

*It makes no sense to keep adding new expenses hoping the state finds other solutions to its financial problems or waiting until the full amount of the town's problem is better defined.

*No way "business as usual" will significantly alter the budget proposal for the April 25 referendum.

Town officials need to quickly take a brave stand and make bold proposals for April 25 budget voting:

*Should capital projects that will add "new" interest and maintenance expenditures be canceled now?

*Community Center.

*Senior Center.

*Police Station.

Should school and municipal budgets be unchanged from 2016-2017? (I suggest letting each decide how to live within the constrained budgets.)

*Town officials should recommend a Yes vote for both proposals.

We can argue what the "correct" 2017-2018 budget impact of the state actions will be.

We can point out the unfairness and negative consequences of the required reduction in expenses.

We can keep reducing the size of the community center pool and keep arguing about what the cost overrun will be. Do not let the $15 Million GE gift become an annual expense anchor around our necks.

The longer we keep adding expenses and the later we start cutting expenses, the more drastic the impacts will be.

And no one will be happy with what must be done.

Steve Bennett

4 Monitor Hill Road, Newtown         March 28, 2017