How can the Board of Finance of Old Saybrook submit a general government budget with a 1.7 percent increase and a Board of Education budget with a 2.04 increase when revenues from the state are unknown?

In times of fiscal uncertainty, the prudent thing to do would be to hold the line on spending or reduce it. Factors that contribute to the budget revenues decreasing are the town's flat grand list, little job growth along with suppressed wages.

The state's financial crisis has led to thousands of state employee layoffs and reductions in money to local municipalities. Many retired pension receivers, thanks to a law passed in 2014 by Congress, will receive at least a third less in their pension income. These pension holders will cut spending to live within their income.

How much more tax money is the taxpayer being asked to pay? I urge the taxpayers of Old Saybrook to vote no to the general government and the Board Education budget referendum on Tuesday. 

Eleanor Susan LaPlace

Old Saybrook