Reprinted from The Trumbull Times © Copyright 2009
March 19, 2009

To the Editor:

Reading Nancy DiNardo's letter in last week's Times attacking Republican Chairman Jack Testani, I couldn't help but chuckle.

DiNardo does double duty as both the state's and Trumbull's Democratic chairman. Indeed DiNardo thinks she is the godmother for the Connecticut Democratic Party.

Her letter is a demonstration of how out of touch she and her colleagues are. DiNardo speaks to the $73 million high school renovation as fiscally responsible and good for our local economy. This mentality is why Connecticut has the unique distinction of being the state in the union with the highest taxes and cost of living.

Here are some facts for DiNardo to ponder. The $73 million high school renovation does not include $14 million already spent on the 16 classroom expansion at THS. Therefore, the total cost, not including interest, will be $87 million. When interest is included, close to $100 million will be spent for this renovation/expansion construction project.

Trumbull taxpayers will have to pay almost $5 million a year for the next 20 years. This will represent an incremental tax of 3% each year, not including the prospective tax increase for inflation, wage increases, increased energy costs and other contractual obligations.

I think everyone agrees that THS should be renovated, but most people believe the focus should be on "need to haves" and not "nice to haves." The recently defeated Town Council resolutions introduced by Minority Leader Carl Massaro and colleagues would have provided for a comprehensive and affordable Phase I renovation of THS.

Democrats in Hartford and Trumbull believe that money grows on trees. Their modus operandi is "spend more." Republicans believe in "spending better."

I wonder how DiNardo plans on defending Ray Baldwin's eight year record this November? In the last seven years, the Baldwin Team has increased spending by 50% and increased taxes by 50% or more on taxpayers. Just last year, Ray Baldiwn proposed raising taxes 11.6%. Our debt service has gone from 6.7% of the budget in 2001 to 8.9% this year. Trumbull's pension plans lost tens of millions of dollars and independent auditors tell us that the percentage that the town pensions are underfunded grew at an alarming rate.

Under the Baldwin Administration, we have had a tax and spend trend that runs double the rate of inflation, double the rate of growth in family income and double the amount of increase that seniors get in their Social Security checks.

Is this a record to be proud of?

DiNardo's political machine has controlled the First Selectman's office for 32 out of the last 36 years. Are the facts stated above the kind of leadership that Trumbull deserves? In the 2008 presidential election, the operative buzz word during the campaign was "change." As we approach a local election in Trumbull in 2009, the operative buzz words will be "clean house." I'm glad DiNardo quoted Jack Testani last week in her letter. Trumbull voters do deserve better.

Domenic Monaco
Trumbull