Hal Kreider

In Northwood, you usually need the support of approximately 40o town-wide voters to get elected to the Budget Committee (BC). In contrast, some village district members have been elected with as few as 10 votes - by voters focused on very narrow interests. Even though they might represent only 1/40th the number of people as a true BC member, the village district representatives' vote currently carries the exactly the same weight. This gives these representatives a grossly unfair level of influence. This bill would help level the playing field and give everyone equal representation. The effectiveness of the bill would be further enhanced in terms of fairness by stipulating that appointed members may only participate in the BC discussions that are directly related to their appointment. For example, it makes no sense to allow the representative from a village district formed to maintain their roads to participate in, and perhaps greatly influence, a discussion regarding the school budget. It should only be the school district representative participating in that discussion with the BC.