The next Newtown Leaders Forum webcast, scheduled for Monday, April 20, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, will key in on helping business owners/leaders focus on resiliency.
Newtown’s Economic and Community Development team — Christal Preszler and Kim Chiappetta — along with E&CD team member Christine O’Neill have been working throughout the COVID-19 crisis to supply reso...
The opening of an ice cream stand is among the things that herald the return of spring. But what happens when a pandemic is added to the mix? In Newtown, there are two answers to that question.
Newtown’s cases of COVID-19 hovered just below 60 as nearly 5,200 others in Fairfield County logged positive test results Friday. By that time Connecticut was marking a statewide total in excess of 10,500 positive cases of the coronavirus.
Following the launch of a live streamed Facebook forum with several local experts unpacking and discussing the federal Payroll Protection Plan (PPP), organizers will be welcoming a new panel in an effort to help local businesses survive and thrive during the coronavirus emergency.
Philanthropic initiatives across a widening landscape of businesses, nonprofits, and even utilities, are trying to respond to help fill some of the growing burdens faced by local and state residents.
Banks serving Newtown are quickly falling in line by either limiting customer interactions with staff or closing certain branch operations while encouraging depositors to utilize computer banking services and ATMs to access cash or to transact other applicable business.
All of the referendums deserve to be pasted. We have a history of deferring needed maintenance and then paying more years later. These are required to keep our town owned building and roads in working condition.
Every vote matters and that’s exactly why it’s important to recognize that voting No on a proposed budget is not a vote against Newtown, but rather a vote for accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. Last year, when voters rejected the education budget in its first round, it wasn’t just a symbolic gesture—it resulted in a reduced spending plan that ultimately passed. That outcome showed that our voices can and do make a difference.
Voting “No” is one of the few tools residents have to encourage our town leaders to re-evaluate spending, find creative solutions, and prioritize needs over wants.
So yes, please vote on April 22—but don’t be afraid to vote “No” if you believe we can do better. Last year’s vote proved that when residents speak up, real changes can follow.
Breaking the tax increase down to a “cost per day” may make it sound more palatable, but it minimizes the real impact these increases have—especially on those already struggling with rising costs across the board. A dollar here and a dollar there adds up, and for many families, it's not just about the price of a cup of coffee—it's about stretching every dollar to cover groceries, fuel, healthcare, and housing.
A 6.72% property tax increase is significant, regardless of how it’s framed. Saying “it’s only $1.13 a day” overlooks the fact that for some residents, every expense matters. Just because costs are rising doesn’t mean the burden should automatically fall on taxpayers without exploring real efficiencies, cost savings, or long-term planning.
We need to prioritize fiscal responsibility and find smarter ways to manage our town’s needs without assuming residents can or should absorb another round of tax hikes.
Let’s have the library present a 20-year, 40-year, and 60-year OPEX/capital investment plan to determine whether this is truly a sustainable investment or just another sunk cost fallacy. Two of the items we’re voting on next week were originally framed as “donations,” yet they continue to cost this town more money over time. It’s time to say no, and force a serious reevaluation of how we approach these decisions.
