The top five reasons to put the Budget on the Ballot in Bedford
1. 72 people attended a meeting to vote on a Bedford Town Budget last year, the night after more than 5000 voters cast votes on official ballots.
There is no reason for the budget not to be on the ballot.
2. It’s more in line with our American Democracy and our New Hampshire sensibility.
Voting on how your tax dollars are spent, in your town, one of the best examples of democracy in action there is.
Granite-staters are known for our engagement in the political process.
Having your say on Bedford’s Town Budget, on a ballot, is simply more democratic than the alternative.
3. It incentivizes town government to communicate and reposed to you.
Putting the budget on the ballot means thousands of our voting friends and neighbors get a voice in approving how tax dollars area spent in Bedford.
The current process means that, literally, only a few dozen attendees of a town meeting get to direct the spending of $40 million dollars of your money.
Putting the budget on the ballot means fewer surprises, and more open communication and discussion on our Town Budget.
4. It helps dilute the impact of special interests.
Putting the budget on the ballot means more people voting to approve the budget.
Special interests will no longer be able to surprise taxpayers and change budgets by bringing handful of supporters to a late night meeting in an auditorium.
Just like the school budget, which has been on the ballot for two decades, voters will have no less than 30 days to read, review, and decide whether to approve the budget.
Today, changes to the annual budget are proposed and approved in minutes by mere handfuls.
5. The school budget of nearly $80 million dollars is on the ballot (and has been for 20 years), the town budget of nearly $40 million should be on the ballot as well.