MilfordEd Advocates

Re: Pending Cut to the MPS 2023-24 Annual Budget Request

To: Milford Board of Aldermen

Milford is home to hundreds of businesses, employing thousands of area residents. We provide goods and services, jobs and an economic tax base to this thriving community. The Milford way of life exists because of the opportunities we provide.

Milford is also our home. We employ our neighbors, and our kids go to school with our customers. By choosing to own a business in Milford, we have chosen to pour all of our time, energy and resources into supporting this Small City with a Big Heart.

That is why we are so disappointed and concerned to hear that the Board of Aldermen is contemplating a budget for the 2023-24 school year that would significantly underfund our schools.

If businesses are the backbone of a town, then the schools are its heart. The quality of life in any small town, especially Milford, revolves around the strength of our community and schools. This is what drew so many of us to Milford to start our businesses and raise our families, despite competing options in surrounding towns.   

If you allow these cuts, the only discretionary funds available to reduce are those directly tied to the programming and opportunities our kids have through their schools. If you pull support for those things now, the allure of Milford for future businesses and their workforce will most certainly fade.

We are also concerned about the unnecessarily risky budget procedure. Any business owner worth their salt knows that budgets are important. Sticking to them determines whether you succeed or fail. However, we also know that a good budget is just a reflection of a smart, strategic plan. This is what concerns us most about the arbitrary budget reduction passed by the Board of Finance.

There appears to be no thought behind the decision, but a cut of this magnitude requires a thoughtful strategic plan designed to carefully manage risk and minimize disruption to the thousands of students and families whose lives revolve around Milford schools. None of that happened in this situation, and the resulting confusion and anxiety has already been on display.

As local business owners, we are very familiar with the damage this careless cut would have on our families, our community, and ultimately our town. We have dedicated ourselves to making Milford a prosperous place to live and work, and this type of action undermines our hard work.

We ask that the Board of Alderman show the strategic vision and courage to reject the budget passed by the Board of Finance and pass the fully funded budget request developed by the Board of Education for the 2023-24 school year.

Our kids deserve better. Our families deserve better. Our town deserves better.

Thank you,

Ryan McConnell, Owner Cafe Atlantique

John Schuld, President and Founder Swistek Machinery America

Katie Geddes, Owner Katie Geddes Interiors

Sally Whelan, Owner Sally Whelan Hair, LLC

John Kranz, Owner J.Kranz Carpentry

Collen Kranz, Owner Social Alchemy

Amy Rushlow, Owner AT Sanga Yoga

Wanda Carlson, Owner Carlson Insurance Agcy Inc

Leo & Stephanie Koutikas, Owners The Greek Spot Cafe & Grill

Alli Bauer, Owner Kimberly and Co.

Lesli Flick, Owner Scratch Baking

Dan Van Der Woude, Principal Northern Building Group

Adam De Young, Owner De Young Media

Melissa Andersen, Owner. Just be Yoga & Wellness

Susan Glennon, Owner Susan’s House Family Daycare

Billy Seymour, Ownder Nantucket Embroidery

Amanda Griffith and Jennifer Bosma, Co-Owners KidSense Therapy Group

Christina Pritchard, Owner Scoot and Paddle

Eleni Grigoriadis, Owner Pop’s Family Restaurant

Richard and Lynn Conine, Co-Owners Stonebridge Restaurant

Osman Tunali, Owner Silver Sands Pizza

Adrianna Linkstrom, Owner Good Morning Cupcake

Christine J. Pacuk, Owner Lifted Lash and Brow Studio

Leigh DiLeonardo, Owner Leigh by the Sea Hair

Camille Plourde, Owner Hair by Camille

Heather Sherrick for Newhart Plastics, Inc

George Canevari, Co-Owner Canevari Plastics

Sam Osak, Owner Woodmont Pizza

Paul J Simpson, Ownder Woodmont Subway

James Perrella, Owner The Perrella Agency

Darcy Appleby, Director of Operations GCA of Milford

Danielle Rathey, Owner Happiness Hut Coaching & Therapy

Gail Perrella, Owner Revive Salt Therapy and Wellness

Christina Bierwirth, Owner Women’s Wellness

Holly Burton, Owner Walnut Beach Wellness Center

Corey Satterfield, Owner Traditional Construction LLC

Sarah Muratore, Owner Kasuba Photography and Films

Melissa Pucci, Owner Discount Fence of Connecticut, LLC

Carol Navarro, Owner C&D Number Crunchers LLC

Isaac Alamo, Owner River Three Barber Shop

Ute-Christin Cowan, Owner Ute-Christin Photography, LLC

Nick Amoratis & Crystal Ardito, Owners Nautilus Milford

Christopher Haley, Owner Southern CT Football Camps

Jamie Rude, Owner Humanitects, Inc.

Joe Romano, Owner Mojoe’s Gym

Ian Bogan, Owner Bogan’s Tree Service LLC

Clair Gray, Owner Clarity Wellness

Joe Bloszko, Owner Bloszko Plumbing & Heating

Raymond Testo, Owner Testo Family Farm

Jennifer Langlois, Owner Touchdown Nutrition

Christopher Cammarano, A Reliable Welder

Anthony Picarazzi, Owner Simply Kitchens

Sandra Briggs, Owner Hair of the Dog

Jeffrey Donaldson, Owner 258 Devon Auto LLC

Kristine Casey, Owner Casey’s Irish Pub

Shannon Dolan, Owner Mix & Mingle Mobile Bar

Deborah Rogers, Owner Novus Camps LLC

Frank & Rena Gargiulo, Owners Bar 3 Thirty Three

Emilio Dominguez, Owner Milford Pizza and Mexican Food

Rosa Dominguez, Owner Isabel’s Bakery

Makayla Silva, Owner The Giggling Pig Milford

Heather Sharpe, Owner The Cone Zone

Christopher Hey, Brian Kearney, Brittany Kearney, Owners Liberty Rock Tavern

Sana Siddiqi, Owner Dairy Queen Milford

Glenn Laudenslager, Owner Charge Ahead Marketing

Katie Timpanelli, Owner Katie Timpanelli Hair

Heather Krom, Owner HairByHKrom

John DePuma, Owner DePuma’s Gluten Free Pasta

Jay Reason, Owner Static Era Records

Dennis Kokenos, Owner The Bridgeport Flyer Diner

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Watch Ryan McConnell’s testimony at the Board of Aldermen Public Hearing