By my estimation, the cost of an independent Montville police force is, conservatively, $1.5 million higher than the town says. Plus, Montville loses a $578,000 incentive to keep 2016 budget under 2.5 percent increase cap. Police budget alone will force 4.4 percent growth. Tax increase tallies $361 for $200,000 house assessment. I cannot afford, nor can the 5.2 percent (2011) below poverty level. 

No evidence has been provided that the town needs independent department. As I understand, our inactive chief of police/mayor, as admitted by town officers, only engages in hiring/discipline. This town reflects "dysfunction at the Junction."

Inefficiency is always a system problem, as the mixology party should realize. Town officers claim additional force staff is needed because of delays in case investigation. But, no comparative statistics showing growth are prepared or maintained. There is, first, no real identification of backlog, nor, secondly, identification of causes, if backlog actually exists. 

And with added staff, police chief, and new operation, the chaos and complexity theory guarantees problems will exponentially grow. By some estimates staffing will see a 30 percent increase.

Examine what the town now has and fix it. As proven in recent state education lawsuit, just throwing more money at a problem will never solve it.　

James E. Stuhler

Montville