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Council proposal to add advisory question on budget referendum prompts mixed views from Board
Summary
Chair Lowry brought a request from the Town Council to put an advisory question on the referendum asking whether a 'no' vote meant voters thought the budget was "too high" or "too low." Board members said the wording is ambiguous and suggested Town Counsel draft language for later consideration.
Chair Houston Putnam Lowry raised a request from the Town Council to consider adding a second advisory question to the budget referendum asking voters who rejected a budget whether they voted "no" because they thought it was too high or too low. Lowry said he had placed the item on the agenda at the Council's request so the Board could discuss it.
Board members expressed mixed reactions. Kathleen Johnson and Cathy Salchert said the question could surface useful information; others, including Micah Rousey and Houston Lowry, worried it would create more ambiguity and not necessarily solve the problems that cause voters to reject budgets. Members asked Town Counsel to draft sample language and agreed to consider the question alongside the budget process rather than deciding immediately.
