Editor,
I was shocked to read a recent letter by DTC Chairman Ellery Plotkin in which he completely distorted the facts in order to scare people to vote in support of Democrats. Mr. Plotkin wrote: “Last budget year, they (RTM Republicans) blindly slashed $2,000,000 out of the Education budget without regard to education needs”. His statement is false. The Board of Finance in a bipartisan vote reduced the increase to the education budget by $1.2m. The RTM further reduced the increase by $500k which they attributed to projected savings on health care benefits and an increased projection of retirements. Both reductions came after much debate and were not “blindly” made. These were both reductions in increases over the prior year’s budget and NOT CUTS.
Mr. Plotkin ended his letter using a slogan that now appears on Democratic lawn signs: “Save our Schools”. Our schools do not need to be saved. The Democrats have been and will remain in the majority on the Board of Education and Board of Selectman after this election. The assertion that our schools need to be saved is an insult to all of the elected officials and parents who have worked hard over the years on both sides of the aisle to build the system we have today.
Improvements can always be made but there is no dire proposal at all on the table that would harm our schools. The Republicans have supported and will continue to support prudent investments in our education system and our physical infrastructure.
Mr. Plotkin is entitled to his own opinion, but he is not entitled to his own facts! When the facts are inconvenient, you cannot just make them up.
In 2013, the Democrats proposed a 6.4% increase in your taxes. Through pressure applied by Republicans and through bipartisan efforts that increase was reduced by over 4%.
On November 5th, I hope Fairfield voters will come out to the polls to vote to keep a system of checks and balances and support the Republicans.
Signed,
James Millington
Fairfield RTC Chairman
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