Simsbury Board of Finance Public Hearing April 22, 2025

Board of Finance Budget Hearing April 22, 2025

The Budget as presented with a 2.55% increase has a devasting affect on the economic growth of Simsbury.

There are many unintended consequences, one of which is the encumbrances of the purchase of a building for Special Education that will service a minute sector of our student population.

It appears that the contract to purchase the building for Special Education has not been signed.

The Board of Education should be in the business of delivering cost-effective services to most of our students and not continue to service a Special Education dynasty that has grown over the years with uncontrolled costs and a dysfunctional plan that is no longer acceptable.

The theory that throwing money at a project will fix the problem without any cost-containment is a broken model.

Our Educators do not have the courage to admit that drastic changes must be made and have parents as the stake-holders in paying for the services of their children’szx Special Education needs.

The educators do not have the courage to go against the Special Education dynasty, afraid of a back-lash that will affect their job security, with high paying salaries.

The taxpayers are being used as pawns in creating a mirage that money will change the outcomes of student behavior.

Increased taxation will create more unintended consequences.

Rents will increase, buying power will be diminished affecting the business community, Economic Development will be at a stand-still leading to burdening the residents with higher taxes for diminished services.

Hoffman Dealership, Dyno Nobel & Ensign Bickford Plant and other high rollers will have the means to appeal their taxes in court and have a reduced settlement, adding to increased costs to the less fortunate.

Property values will decrease, leading to lower collection of taxes with a bloated budget that is out of control and unsustainable.

All 401K pension plans , subject to market volatility has decreased.

Listening to this mantra of “spend to save” is a failed financial policy.

The budget as presented should be voted down until the leaders start showing some integrity in what they are proposing and produce cost-controls for unfunded mandates.

Just because everyone is doing it or we always have done it this way is not a reason to subject the taxpayers to increased taxes without any cost controls in this budget and future budgets.

VOTE NO!