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10/12/2022 08:00 AM

Questions for Candidates


A portion of the state’s surplus is relieving taxpayers from Connecticut taxes on gas, from June to December of fiscal 2022 lessening residents’ financial burdens. Currently, taxpayers are experiencing unprecedented inflation — at least a 20 percent increase in health insurance premiums and spiraling heating and utilities expenses — and need financial relief. At the pharmacy a man ahead of me needed a medication that was $1,600 and the insurance carrier wasn’t going to pay.

What a contrast from the town of Old Saybrook with a budget surplus of over a $1 million. The Board of Finance and the Board of Selectman members held a special town meeting on Sept. 28, at 6 p.m., in an overcrowded room and taxpayers in the hallway. Approximately 70 taxpayers decided how the surplus was disbursed. This Special Town Meeting appeared to be a meeting of special interests, leading to the following questions for candidates:

Should million-dollar surpluses be refunded to the taxpayers?

Are government grants worth the administrative costs?

Why are special town meetings scheduled between 3 and 6 p.m. rather than 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.

Would use of public-school auditoriums for special town meetings be feasible?

Should special town meetings to spend surplus monies be adjourned to a town referendum?

Should surpluses be spent for the common good and provide relief to taxpayers instead of special projects?

Eleanor Susan LaPlace

Old Saybrook