Concerns/Factors to Consider

• No actual control over school board budget (approx. 30% of households have children<18)

• Lack of cohesive publicly-communicated town vision for the future

• Outdated town plan, long-term empty lots and buildings on our ‘Main’ street – Front St.

• Stagnant town revenues

• Underdeveloped town infrastructure

• Tight budget

• Environmental/geological factors that add regulatory steps (costing time and money) to all town infrastructure projects

• Poverty rate of approximately 15%, almost twice that of Putnam County as a whole*

• Limited buildable lots due to geology in the town

• Cost of housing and energy

• Land owners with prime property in the Hamlet that are not developing, even after decades of ownership

• MTA asset ownership in the Hamlet

• Connecticut’s lower taxes & New Fairfield resident land management/stormwater runoff into Putnam Lake

• Distance to access post-high school educational or training opportunities

• Cuts to government spending impacting protection of natural resources and The Great Swamp

• Ratio of non-profit businesses to for-profit businesses in the town of Patterson

• Limited cultural activities/enrichment programs (music, art, theater, dance) available in the town

• Political influences at levels above the town government