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Taxpayers’ Interests Foremost

Thanks go to First Selectman Tom Banisch and the Board of Selectmen for making cuts to the proposed town budget (approximately $373,000) thereby putting taxpayers’ interests foremost. No thanks go to Board of Finance (BOF) Chair Joe MacDougald and the BOF for restoring virtually all of these proposed cuts. Most egregious was the $50,000 designated for improving the entrance to Salt Meadow Park. Why would anyone in his or her right mind want to improve a place that no one visits? What will they ask for next year, perhaps a full time gardener for the red sassafras trees?

Further, the BOF’s veiled suggestion that $750,000 could be used to mitigate tax increases is no bargain for taxpayers. The projected balance of the unassigned fund is $1.6 million (I don’t believe this includes money in the rainy day account). One million dollars at the very least should be used to mitigate taxes. Thumbs down on the town budget; I encourage your readers to vote “No.”

I’m very much aware of spiraling health care costs and fixed contractual obligations confronting the Board of Education (BOE). However, I just can’t get my mind around its requested 2.58 percent budget increase in light of the reduction of 7.5 certified teaching positions. Were these positions staffed by non-paid volunteers? What if there were no reductions or if there was an increase of 7.5 positions? I’d estimate increases of 10- to 20 percent under those scenarios.

Our schools in Madison are second to none in Connecticut, and no one wants to see that change, so no quibbling with BOE’s requested budget, even though I don’t understand it. Thumbs up on education budget: I encourage your readers to vote “Yes.”

Allen Jewell

Madison