Below you will find a copy of an e-mail being circulated to Naugatuck residents. As a member of the Board of Finance and a strong supporter of the library I would like to take a moment to respond.

    First, I would like to remind you that being aware of the effect that the recent state mandated re-evaluation would have on all our taxes (my property tax increased by about $1,200.00 ) we spent many hours and many late nights crafting as tight a budget as we felt was responsible. After cutting all departments to the bone, so to speak, there was little or no "wiggle room" left. In the face of spiraling energy costs and union mandated contractual increases, we then submitted a budget with only a 3.2% spending increase over last year. We felt this represented one of the best budgets in recent years.

    As you know, the group "Taxpayers in Revolt" aided by a conservation group (who's sole aim was the elimination of one $75,000 line item for a playing field on town property on Gunntown Road) then forced a referendum where only 16.5% of the town's voters participated. These few voters overwhelmingly voted the budget down and forced us reluctantly into further cuts.
    

 The across-the-board 1% cut to all departments and the .5% cut to the Board of Ed (bringing them down to an 3.5% total increase) as well as the elimination of any new playing fields for our children, will force the loss of jobs as well as curtailment of hours on many of our town departments. Think about that next winter if your street doesn't get plowed in a timely manner.) If some organizations, such as the Library seem to be hit harder than others, please consider that essential services such as Police, Fire and the Street Department have to be preserved. Also consider that the Library has additional sources of income such as their endowment and fund raising by the group "Friends of the Library". 
   

 Further, the attached e-mail tends to place the blame for these cuts on the  'Board of Mayor and Burgesses ' as well as the  'Board of Finance" instead of where it belongs, firmly on the backs of "Taxpayers in Revolt" as well as the voters who didn't take the time to familiarize themselves with this important issue before deciding to vote or to stay home. 
   

And in conclusion I'd like to remind you that the "Taxpayers in Revolt" have stated they will take us to another referendum unless the budget is cut to a ZERO PERCENT increase. This is impossible without crippling our town!! So when presented with a petition for your signature think long and hard before signing. Any further cuts in this budget could impact YOU severely in many ways such as the possible curtailment of hours at the Senior Center, the possible elimination of curbside trash pick-up and many much needed social services, etc. 
   

Please forward this to as many Naugatuck residents as possible as it is vital that the taxpayers of our community understand what's at stake.

Don Carten

Member of the Board of Finance