This is in response to Terry Dunn’s letter to the editor, “Spotswood Sorely Lacking in Services for Disabled” that appeared in the Sept. 4 issue of the Sentinel.
It’s incredible that anyone would expect Spotswood (or any other small town for that matter) to provide services for the disabled, such as suggested by Dunn, i.e., housing, transportation, recreational programs. Let me remind her that the Spotswood public school system already spends in excess of $1 million every year for its special-education program, which includes out-ofdistrict placements for special-needs students. While special-ed programs are required by law, and are funded through local property taxes with some reimbursement from the state, it is not required that local taxpayers bear the burden of caring for special needs individuals beyond education.
I am certain, however, that the state provides, again through taxes, many programs for disabled adults, and many charitable organizations and private businesses coordinate their efforts with state programs to help the disabled.
For Dunn to suggest that we, the property taxpayers of Spotswood, should also develop programs for disabled adults on this small-town budget is absolutely ludicrous. I agree with Curt Stollen that we cannot be everything to everyone.
I suggest that Dunn lean on the state for assistance, or perhaps take some initiative to start her own programs and organize fundraisers for these programs, and give the rest of us a break.
Kathy Carvin
Spotswood