Dear Board of Finance Members:
I’ve read your letter dated March 26 posted on WestportNow.com. I am … it’s hard to put into words. Disgusted? Confused? Disheartened? Although perhaps not for the reasons you would hope to have accomplished by publishing this letter.
I agree that Westport residents should not have to pay for the mistakes made by the state. That being said, do the Westport residents know the whole picture of what else is going on in our town? “Education” is a big trigger word for this town, for myself as well.
I have a child in the Westport Public School system, and am disheartened every year by budget cuts. I would get into the details regarding those disappointments, but that isn’t what this letter is about.
Do the residents realize what is happening with our local first responders? Do they know that this town, with all it claims to offer, is asking that the new contract for our first responders cancel benefits to their families in case of a line of duty death? And this is only one of many items listed.
Our residents know that these men and women rush into our homes when they are burning, rush into traffic when there is an accident, jump into ice cold water to try to rescue swimmers or accident victims, and risk illness to help people in their homes when they cannot help themselves.
But do they know that when one of these first responders is killed in the line of duty, or as a direct result of this duty, the town is asking that upon such death, the grieving families of these first responders will be cut off from their medical insurance and possibly any future compensation?
Do they know that the town keeps fleecing the benefits promised to these firefighters and police when they took on these jobs? They sacrifice their lives for you, for everyone, and in return, their families will be left with nothing.
It is a disgrace that we can expect so much from these people and their families, who never know if saying good-night to their loved ones will be the last time, to sacrifice so much, and then fail to take care of them after they have made the ultimate sacrifice.
I find it disturbing that while you can send an open letter to the public asking for educational cuts, you don’t mention cuts you are already trying to pass. I, too, would not point out my ill intentions, but I think to be fair if you are asking people to write to our representatives, then you should provide them with full disclosure.
In closing, I’m not sure the taxpayers would mind an increase in taxes. We are paying less in taxes than many other towns in this state, and per capita we have some of the highest incomes.
Of course an increase is not going to be “fair” for everyone, but in light of the current situation, I don’t think many would be willing to sacrifice either our educational system or our public safety in lieu of saving a little on taxes.
I think it’s a political move to say “we don’t want to increase taxes,” rather than a practical one. I fear for the future of this town.
If we keep cutting education, and we keep failing to provide for our first responders, who is going to want to live here? Who will want to take a job that comes with the promise of benefits, when they see that those promises are broken?
Sincerely,
Kathleen Major Denke
Westport
