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Parochial Interests

I find the budget vote in Clinton strange. First, let me say I don’t care which one your readers supported or not. What I find strange and somewhat troubling is the difference in the vote for each. The education budget gets more support than the town budget and I don’t understand why. I believe both are of equal importance. In thinking about this, keep in mind the education budget is approximately double the town budget.

On May 10, the town budget lost by 224 votes and the education budget lost by 147 votes. So approximately 77 people who voted for the education budget voted against the town budget. On May 24, the town budget lost by 18 votes, but the education budget won by 135 votes. So I believe approximately 153 of the pro-education voters voted against the town budget.

The only valid reason for the vote to be out of balance would be if the voter thought one was a better budget by a considerable margin than the other. One budget was tighter or more honest than the other and the voter wanted to send a message against the fatter budget. Unless this is true, the votes should be relatively equal, either up or down.

I believe each budget is about equal in quality (or lack thereof) and importance. The only reason I can think of for this imbalance in support (or not) is that some folks voted based on parochial interests. If true, this is not community-minded. The next vote is June 7. Education voters should show up to vote this time also.

Phil Sengle

Clinton