The 2010 budget vote demonstrated an increased focus on real world economics.
While those who supported the full day kindergarten initiative could post: "Woo, hoo, it passed" on the Ridgefield Press Forum like some silly first grader, others of us who opposed the school budget could take solace in the fact that more of us actually considered the real fundamental issues and came out to vote our conscience.
This is no small matter. Thirty-one percent of the voting population, or about five thousand residents, participated in the highest voter turnout in recent history.
The result? In what was clearly NOT a mandate, the school budget passed by a mere 200 or so votes while the town budget passed by a three to one margin.
A win is a win, but for those of you who sometimes feel "What's the use, nothing changes", take notice, change IS possible, clearly tied to your interest and active participation. So keep it up; ask the hard questions, go to meetings. Don't be embarrassed to speak out.
The last time the budgets were rejected, an elected official was heard to say: "Clearly the wrong people voted" and this year an e-mail blast titled 'Vote Update Urgent' went out with the following message "... Based on the people entering the polls this afternoon things are getting worse. The majority of people voting do not appear to be 'parents'".
Both ignorant statements by any standard, it demonstrates a mindset that clamors for change. This is not 'their' town. This is 'our' town. Does one have to be a certain 'type' to care about Ridgefield's future including education? I think not.
Because of this year's decisions, next year the Boards of Selectmen and Finance will face even tougher decisions or be held politically responsible for Ridgefield's diminution.
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