Referendum Off to a Slow Start

The referendum on the town’s proposed 2011-2012 budget and charter changes is off to a slow start Wednesday.

As of 1:23 p.m. just 252 people had cast ballots.  At approximately 5:30 p.m. it was 441. 

Officials hope the pace picks up, especially since 1,024 votes — 15 percent of the number registered at the last special election — are needed to validate the results of the proposed changes to the town’s charter. 

The changes propose staggered terms for the Board of Selectmen but also look to fix language in the last charter revision process that leaves the possibility for limited election choices for the Board of Selectmen. 

“We need 1,024 in order to ratify the charter,” said moderator Lorinda Pane. “If we don’t get that many voters it just lingers.” 

“To make it worthwhile, we definitely need people to get out,” said Republican Registrar John R. Miner Jr.

Read more about the proposed charter changes here. 

Of course, the referendum also asks people to approve or disapprove the  2011-2012 budget plan of $34,015,978, a .9 percent increase over the current budget. The budget would result in a tax increase of .19 mils or .73 percent. It would result in owners of a home with a market value of $361,429 and an assessed value of $253,000 paying an additional $48 in taxes.

A no vote almost certainly means a lower budget, officials have said. 

The boards of Education and Selectmen initially requested higher budgets but the Board of Finance reduced a total of $379,790 from the budget. Read more about the specifics in this article. 

No matter how people vote, officials encourage participation. 

“I certainly would like to see more people come in,”  Democratic Registrar Betty Fournier said. “It’s our right and privilege to vote on the budget and the charter.”