Williamstown to debate change to school budget vote
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By David Delcore Times Argus Staff - Published: February 6, 2010
WILLIAMSTOWN – Rama Schneider appreciates the give-and-take of a traditional town meeting as much as the next guy.
So, it was something of a surprise when Schneider, who now sits on the local school board, recently suggested it might be time to consider shifting to the day-long voting system many surrounding communities – including Barre, Montpelier, Barre Town, Northfield and, most recently Berlin – use to approve school budgets.
Although he's not a particularly big fan of the Australian ballot, Schneider said it's probably time to talk about using it in a community where the education system is getting to be a pretty big business, and turnout on Town Meeting Day has become something of a disappointment.
It was with that in mind that Schneider said he decided to give voice to an idea that has quietly been discussed in Williamstown over the years, but never, to his knowledge, publicly debated.
"I don't know how original the thought was, but I think maybe it's time," said Schneider. "Let's put it out there and see what people think."
That's precisely what the school board has done, by warning a ballot item that will be discussed, debated and ultimately decided on the floor of town meeting, right after voters who show up on March 2 pass judgment on an $8.2 million school budget that reflects a 5 percent increase in spending and would add an estimated 13 cents to the school tax rate.
Schneider, who stimulated more than his share of town meeting debate prior to being elected to the school board, said he has mixed feelings about a proposal that that could forever alter the complexion of the open meetings he has been religiously attended for more than 20 years.
"I'm a little ambivalent about it," he admitted. "But, I think it's a legitimate question."
And, if forced to answer it today, Schneider said he would probably support the change because he believes the promise of increased participation outweighs the value of what has become fairly limited debate.
"I think it gives more people a sense of ownership in the outcome," he said, citing what is widely viewed as the single biggest advantage of the Australian ballot system.
"I would feel differently maybe if more people showed a greater interest in the budget … but, for whatever reason, they don't," he added, pointing to sparsely attended budget hearings and multi-million-dollar decisions made by slivers of the town's electorate on the first Tuesday of March.
"That's a ton of money," he said of the school budget. "It's not a decision that should be made by 160 people."
Still, Schneider said he is willing to be persuaded and eager to hear the arguments both for and against the proposal on Town Meeting Day.
"That's what town meeting is all about," he said.
david.delcore@timesargus.com
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