Paul G. Pixley, 57, of Newtown, died unexpectedly October 26. He was born October 25, 1961, in Norfolk, Va., and was the son of the late Carl Huskes and Leora (Gardner) Pixley.
Mr Pixley was a bus dri...
Patricia Mary Scharr, 71, of Danbury, died peacefully October 29, after a long illness.
Her siblings, Grace Scharr McEnaney of Newtown; Margaret M. Sagarese; Frederick Scharr; and Joseph Scharr; and c...
Violet Farkasdi Csengery, 91, of Newtown, died October 27. She was born in Hungary, January 20, 1927, and was the daughter of the late Sandor and Anna Majsa Farkasdi. She later came to the United Stat...
Jean Elizabeth Chandler, 74, died October 24, at Glen Hill Nursing Center in Danbury. She was born July 29, 1944, in Philadelphia, Penn., and was the daughter of the late Robert and Elizabeth Robin Mc...
James David Rancourt, 66, died October 18, at Danbury Regional Hospice and Palliative Care Center, after battling pancreatic cancer for many years. He was born in Bridgeport on January 27, 1952, to Ir...
Lisa M. (Garrity) Rodden, 60, a longtime resident of Sandy Hook, died peacefully October 24, at home. She was born July 17, 1958, and grew up in Dalton, Mass., or as she often referred to it, “God’s C...
Fran Caso, 72, of Bethel, died October 20, after a long illness. She was born on June 14, 1946, in Baltimore, Md.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Maplewood at Newtown and also Regional Hospice...
Thank you LeReine, for speaking out about this. The list of public servants who are unfairly targeted for abuse just for doing their jobs has been growing. It is a testament to the power of propaganda that otherwise good and well-meaning people can get so emotional as to act out in this way.
While I respect the outcome of the referendum, I’m disappointed by the way this budget was presented and passed. A 6.72% tax increase and a mill rate jump to 28.78 may have been framed as “just a few dollars a day,” but for many families in town — especially those already stretched thin — those “few dollars” add up quickly.
It’s frustrating to see large increases minimized in this way, and I worry that next year we’ll hear, “It’s only a little more than last year,” as if that justifies an ongoing trend of rising taxes. This year’s combined municipal and education budgets total over $141 million — that’s a significant sum.
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.
