The Charter Question

The Charter question is not a partisan issue and it is not only Republicans who favor its defeat. As a member of the Winchester Democratic Town Committee, I am opposed to the charter change as proposed. Although I favor an all-day referendum at which all the citizens can approve or reject the budget approved by the selectmen, I am opposed to the provision that would give voters the ability to reduce the budget at a town meeting.

Our form of government is a representative republic based upon democratic principals. We choose others to make decisions that affect our lives. We expect our selectmen to develop knowledge and expertise about local government and to present a budget request that balances meeting the needs of citizens with our ability to pay. We should help to shape the budget at the public hearings required of the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education. We should further discuss the budget's impact at a town meeting. We should then have a final say at a referendum.

The current method of deciding the budget at the annual town budget meeting is a poor decision-making model. As evidence of this, look at the results of the last two meetings. In May of 2000, the Winchester Taxpayers Association proposed dramatic cuts to the Board of Education budget and to the surprise of almost everyone in attendance, including members of the WTA, the large cuts were approved. Most knew a mistake had been made before we even walked out of the meeting room.

In May of 2001, the WTA again proposed a budget cut, this time of a more modest nature, perhaps feeling the heat of bad public reaction to the devastating cuts of the previous year. To almost everyone's surprise, the proposed reduction was rejected and the budget passed intact. Most acknowledged that some cuts probably should have been made, as the BOE had made no significant reductions over what had been initially presented.

The proposed charter change is not about "we the people"; it is about "we the WTA." The Winchester Taxpayers Association placed five members (out of nine), including its president, on the Charter Revision Commission. Four WTA members are seeking to join a fifth already seated on the Board of Education. Two WTA members are running for the Board of Selectmen. Although there is a need in any community for a tax-watchers’ group, the WTA should not be given the power that it seeks through this charter change.

Join me in voting "No" against this charter change and in demanding a charter commission that will give us the referendum for making the decision on the budget.