Brookfield has a new referendum vote on Tuesday, May 29, and I urge all Brookfielders to come together and vote YES. The current proposal is a reasonable response to the storm-shortened referendum vote, and one that we need to support as a town.

I understand that many have concerns. Some think the increase is too large. Others are angry that more funds were taken away from the schools. For me the bottom line is that this is a budget that represents good, thoughtful work by the Boards of Selectmen, Education and Finance. Great care has been taken to ensure that the needs of the town are being addressed in a transparent and organized way. The boards were thorough in the process, working collaboratively and responsively, making tough decisions.

The current proposal acknowledges some good news about finalized revenue from the state, and addresses a one-time increase in special education needs. It also has reduced spending on both the town and school sides, resulting in a lower estimated mill rate than the budget some of us voted on the day the storm hit.

So again, I urge you to vote YES two times next Tuesday: YES for the municipal budget; YES for the education budget. Thank you.

Ron Jaffe

Brookfield