Low turn out at Town meeting and low turn out at elections.

Here in New England, especially in towns, there is the long standing tradition of of basic democracy that is Town meeting. This is where the people are the legislative branch of government. The only requirements are to be a resident and registered voter. Generally speaking, the people get to make decisions on budget, their local laws and rules and generally what direction they want their town to go in. There are a few exceptions, school budgets for one, especially if the town is part of a regional school district. Recent experience in Templeton, in my opinion, is why it is so important to participate and with that comes knowing the rules and keeping up with them, which I will tell you is a challenge, as it is time consuming to try and keep up with all the changes that can and do happen with the rules and laws.

Another item that is a little more basic and easy, that is the use of chapter 90 funds, commonly thought of as road money. This started out as most things do with good intentions, then it morphed into something different. Again, in Templeton, this is where it happens and this is where people get turned off from participating, in my opinion. Selectmen put a question before the people whether or not to buy a loader or an excavator. The people vote no, so the selectmen then vote to buy the loader or excavator with chapter 90 funds anyways. They do exactly what the people see concerning the vote (s) on the school budget, they (selectmen) take a no vote and turn it into a yes vote. Some may put it this way, the people voted against an increase in their taxes rather than the loader or excavator.

My opinion is this, the people voted no, no loader, no excavator, but they (selectmen) voted to buy it anyways and then tell the residents that there is only this much money to do any road repair work.
To top it off, when ever there is discussion on a capital expense plan, that is a process to plan for the replacement and funding for big items, such as equipment for a highway department, there is always the lack of funding. But if you participate and attend, you would see, in recent years, as in the last two years, that when ever there has been any funds unallocated,  you did not hear selectmen say or mention savings, all you would have seen is spend to expand government or to keep the size intact.
If you were at the most recent Town meeting, you would have heard the selectmen state, "no motion" concerning article 14, transfer an amount to stabilization. No money for savings, no rainy day fund, even as they claimed by word from the Town Administrator that the selectmen budget showed a 50 thousand dollar surplus or unallocated funds left in it. If their budget is good and it is balanced, why not move 25 thousand to stabilization? At least show intent of trying to build up a rainy day fund.

The new elementary school and associated debt aside, the above mentioned subjects of loader and excavator will continue to be part of the reasons people do not bother to attend and will continue to be part of the reason people do not support further increases in taxes, even temporary with regards to debt exclusions, a specific amount of money for a specific period of time.

So the why does it seem people are no longer interested in participating in their government? Could it be they are tired of being asked a question and when they answer, the people whom they elect do not seem to listen?

posted by Jeff Bennett