Delnicki deserves better and so does South Windsor.

                 Politics in South Windsor has long been known as a blood sport and the latest victim is Republican Mayor, Tom Delnicki.  Mayor Delnicki, a lifetime South Windsor resident and a dignified and honorable person, has been rebuked by local Republican insiders who will not endorse him for another term on Town Council.  Delnicki has devoted much of his adult life to public service and espoused a philosophy of careful and controlled spending in town government.  When he chose to work with Democrats (including myself) to keep spending and taxes down, he was publicly attacked by Republican insiders.  These are the same party leaders who were willing to put the South Windsor Arena out of business by building a taxpayer funded hockey rink at Evergreen Walk.  These Republican leaders have stated they want to “compete” with towns like Glastonbury by building athletic field complexes and sports facilities.  They have shifted town staff from public works to parks and recreation, proposed multimillion dollar sports facilities and failed to focus taxpayer dollars on priorities for all South Windsor residents.  They have stated publicly that if you are not willing to pay higher taxes to fund their sports mandates, you can leave town. 

               The Office of Policy and Management publishes mill rates for Connecticut towns, and South Windsor is now near the top.  What Delnicki’s critics fail to realize is that South Windsor lacks the necessary grand list to “compete” with Glastonbury.  Glastonbury’s grand list is $3.8 billion.  Its budget is $140 million.  South Windsor’s grand list is $2.5 billion.  Its budget is $103 million.  South Windsor simply does not have the tax base to “compete” with Glastonbury.  Nevertheless, South Windsor’s new Republican leadership shows little concern for business owners or senior citizens.  They have openly rejected the views of the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce.  They have openly rejected the call for strict financial stewardship from business leaders from both political parties.  They ignore the pleas from homeowners who have seen their taxes rise over 10% this year alone.

               The South Windsor budget ten years ago was $65 million.  This year it is $103 million, an increase of 58%.  Taxes collected are up over 60%.  Taxes for many businesses and residents have doubled in that time.  Meanwhile, school enrollment is down 20%, sewer fees are up over 50% and several referenda for the elementary schools have been rejected by the voters. 

               Tom Delnicki and I share the view that the economy is in the early stages of recovery.  Connecticut has one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates.  Delnicki has been willing to work with myself, Ed Havens and Dr. Saud Anwar to maintain economic stability in South Windsor.  The reality, however, is that the Republican incumbents have been spending at a fantastic rate.  The Evergreen Walk, Aldi’s and Fedex tax money is all spent.  Capital improvements are now paid for with borrowed money.  There is nearly nothing for road repairs.  The elementary schools are just getting more outdated.  Nothing has been done for seniors. Working families are not even a priority.  The new Republican leadership has been shifting tax dollars towards sports facilities in hopes of making South Windsor a showpiece for upper class families. 

               Tom Delnicki was not nominated by his party to make room for his political rivals.  Delnicki is a hardworking and committed public servant who has never sought to advance a cause for personal gain.  He deserves better treatment and so does South Windsor.