Letters to the Editor: Pros and Cons of the Education Budget

From Melanie O’Brien 

Letter to the Editor:

I have had at least one child in the Bethel School District every year since 1985. For almost three decades, I have witnessed dramatic changes in teaching and learning for the good in Bethel. My children have had many “life changing moments” that I credit to remarkable teachers who made the extra effort to change a child’s direction. 

But there is a far bigger picture than my personal reflections as a thankful parent. 

As the critical importance of education has been recognized as essential for the development of a qualified work force, the role of public schools has been expanding though government funding rarely follows the mandate. Administrators and teachers are required to improve educational standards, to have individualized strategies for each child to improve in deficient areas, to set goals to keep up with technology including its purchase, to provide compassionate personalized care to special needs children, to teach tolerance, fairness and civil behavior, and to graduate each child from high school. It is mind boggling and humbling to see what goes on in the classroom every day.

The Bethel School District is most fortunate to have the leadership, the personnel, the passion and the Vision to continue its goal of improving student achievement for every child. As parents, as taxpayers, as citizens we need to recognize that the financial support of education is essential for all of us.

Please join me in voting on May 17th in favor of the Bethel education budget.

Melanie O’Brien

Cross Hill Road, Bethel

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From Bill Hillman

Taxes should not increase faster than inflation

With the Bethel Town Meeting passing a 3.6 percent property tax hike to referendum, we'll be voting on a spending increase giving us a three year combined tax hike over 11 percent.

That's about 50 percent higher than the rate of inflation over the same period; too much and too big an increase for many.

Take a quick look at your 2011 tax bill, multiply by 1.036 and compare to your 2009 taxes. Take a look, then finish reading this letter. Shocking, isn’t it?

Added to a proposed bond issue, over $3.8 million in new spending is planned. That's over a $2,000 per “yes” vote, given the typical turnout.

Homeowners, especially those on fixed incomes, the unemployed or underemployed, can't continue to be hit with increases that pack four years' worth of inflation into three. With gasoline and heating oil at $4 a gallon or more, the cost of food and basic necessities going up, this budget's just not affordable. The needs of seniors, veterans, and others have to be balanced with needs of residents with kids in the schools.

The reduction needed to bring this in line with inflation is hundreds of thousands less than proposed salary increases. How many residents are getting really great raises or feel secure in their jobs? None that I know!

Let's be fair to all. Until we have a budget presented that raises taxes no more than inflation, I urge voting no, too high!

Bill Hillman

Walnut Hill Rd, Bethel