Report from Paula Antolini
August 19, 2017 1:37PM EDT
OPINION / LETTER TO THE EDITOR
‘No Wonder That Young and Old are Fleeing Connecticut’ —Letter to the Editor from Billy Michael
To the editor,
Since New Year’s Day, Connecticut taxpayers have been inundated with articles on the state budget crisis. While none of Governor Malloy’s dire reductions in state aid to municipalities has yet materialized, the state still has a $3.5 billion-dollar future deficit even after state union “concessions.”
Each day there are reports of new municipal projects expecting still more nonexistent state dollars.
It appears that, in the face of this enormous, unprecedented crisis, Bethel’s local officials have chosen to live in the State of Denial!
Currently, Bethel has a $13.5 million Police Station project that has been already reported as overbudget, with several important features sitting on the chopping block.
Just last year, the town added 6 new positions to their employment rolls. In June, we found out that town officials had created a new $100,000 position to oversee the water and sewer departments, in April the Finance Board turned a part-time social services director into a full-time department head.
Bethel taxpayers learned that the town expects state money for a $600,000 overhead pedestrian bridge as part of their Utopian T.O.D. (a.k.a. Total Over Development).
There is an approximately $1 million plan to refurbish the showers at the municipal center, when the high school is already designated as an emergency shelter.
Tuesday August 22nd, the Board of Finance will consider sending some $67 million in school renovations to a September referendum.
With spending like this it is no wonder that young and old are fleeing Connecticut.
The town of Bethel and the State of Connecticut needs leaders that accept the reality that you cannot spend, tax and bond your way to prosperity.
Twenty-five years of the state income tax has provided ample proof of that.
Connecticut taxpayers deserve far better.
Billy Michael
Bethel, CT
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