Charter Change Would Open Up the Budget Process

After serving on the Charter Revision Commission and taking part in debates about the merits of changing the charter, I came to notice the differences in the arguments for or against the change. Some have said that this change allows a small special interest group, the Winchester Taxpayers Association, special access to the budget process. I have thought about that quite a bit and have not been able to figure how there is any special access to the budget. True, it takes a lot of time to look over the budget in order to have an accurate presentation, but that is hardly special access. And it takes time to develop literature and do mailings or place ads in papers. Your reward for all of your efforts might be to save yourself a very few dollars on your local tax bill. Let's face it—taxes have actually gone down here only once in the decade that I have been active in the annual budget festivities. If anything, the proposed change to the Charter opens up the process to more participation.

Another advantage to the change is that there will not be any literature distributed by anonymous parties. Under the rules of the state statutes governing political advertising, sec. 9-333w(b) (which I shall not repeat in its entirety here, as it is quite wordy), literature distributed anonymously is not allowed, so you know exactly who is promoting their view. Anyone who wants to may participate in the budget process. Furthermore, anyone who doesn't mind identifying themselves can form a committee or association to promote their opinions (although I am not so sure that you would have much success with a committee to increase taxes, as tax increases are usually about as popular as a mid-summer flu epidemic).

Nearly 1,600 people voted in the referendum on the alternate school project—a $2.9 million project. Just over 300 people voted on a $26 million budget at the annual town meeting. You decide which is better. I will vote "Yes" to the charter question.

Bob Bixby is President of the Winchester Taxpayers Association.