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Wilton resident Bev Sutherland looked around the Brubeck Room at the Wilton Library on Thursday night and didn't recognize many people. That was when she decided the Board of Finance's public information meeting was the perfect place to voice her opinion on the projected three-year budget that the board put together in October.
"I have less and less friends in town you are driving the seniors out," said the 34-year Wilton resident, explaining that tax increases are becoming more and more unbearable.
Others echoed similar concerns, hoping to sway the board before the budget is finalized in May. Not surprisingly, opposition to lower taxes came from school board members and parents of school-age children, including Stacey Crameri, who wants to see the schools continue to excel.
"My two biggest investments are my kids and my house," Crameri said. "The effect on the school system will have an effect on my home."
Ken Dartley said although he understands the parents' position, he agreed with Sutherland. He said that if nothing changed, Wilton would eventually end up only with residents with school-age children. Dartley proposed tax relief for seniors and capping the amount of school taxes paid by seniors.
"People with schoolchildren have to understand we want to stay here," Dartley said.
The meeting was the second of two the Board of Finance scheduled to give the public a chance to learn about budget and ask questions of board members. The first meeting took place Thursday, Dec. 9.
What do you think? Should Wilton keep taxes as low as possible to be more affordable for seniors or should it raise taxes to increase the school budget?
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