TOWNSHEND-On Wednesday, May 13, the polls will be open in the towns of Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend, and Windham for the registered voters of those towns to vote on a revised FY27 budget for the West River Modified Union Education District, more commonly known as the WRED.
This district covers the educational needs for all students in the listed towns except for elementary expenses in the Town of Windham. The original budget was voted down on April 8 with a total of 440 votes cast (238 no and 202 yes).
The purpose of my communication is not to try tell people whether they should vote for or against the budget. I urge people to do a bit of research, talk with your representative(s) on the board, and develop your own opinion.
But I do want to emphasize that you need to vote.
School taxes are the majority of your tax bill. While most people seem to understand this, I have come across too many people in Townshend, including some former members of the Selectboard over the years, who really have no idea that the majority of their tax bill is for the schools.
While it does vary by community, in Townshend last year, 71% of the amount of property taxes assessed on residential property was for the schools, leaving 29% for the municipality. That is simply a statement of fact, not an opinion on the budget itself.
Still, despite the obvious impact, in the original vote for the FY27 budget, only 10.4% of the voters cast ballots. Just slightly more than 10% of the registered voters cast ballots.
We really should not have such a small percentage of the electorate deciding one of the most significant questions put to us every year.
I do understand people’s frustrations with elections and the belief that some may have that their vote just does not count in federal or state elections. I do not agree, but I do understand why people might feel that way. In this case, as in individual town elections, the final results of the vote directly impact each voter. This is as local as it gets.
This is not a difficult election to participate in. You do not have to attend a meeting to vote from the floor. You may vote early, you may vote by mail, or you may go the polling place on Wednesday, May 13, and cast your ballot in person when the polls are open. Contact your town clerk for ballot options and the times the polls will be open in your town — but do it now.
While I know it is likely never to happen, I would love to see that percentage increase to 50% or more this year. But I would be happy with even 25%.
It is easy to vote. Just do it!
Rick Hege
Townshend
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