Al Diamon
Maine Towns Vote, Vote and Vote, Again
(page 1 of 2)
Maine voters are sending a message. As soon as Central Intelligence Agency code experts manage to translate it into English, we’ll let you know what it is.
Take Cape Elizabeth, for example. In a June 10 referendum, the town rejected the school budget. On the same ballot, Cape voters were also asked to indicate if they were opposing the spending measure because it was too high or too low. Sixty percent said the town was being a tightwad. So, municipal officials increased the $19.6 million budget by almost $300,000. On July 22, that plan was shot down at the polls. This time, 66 percent said it was too much.
A third vote will now have to be scheduled at the convenience of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
One day after the Cape vote, Monmouth rejected its $7.62 million school budget for the third time.
Voters there weren’t asked if they thought the spending level was too liberal or conservative, but it seems obvious that many on the prevailing side were upset about a budget that carried a proposed increase of nearly 7 percent. Both proponents and opponents are threatening to leave town if their views don’t carry the day in a fourth round of voting.
If so, maybe they should consider relocating to Wiscasset. It took three tries for that town to get its school budget approved, but the $9.32 million plan won majority support on July 22.
Wiscasset’s education spending plan underwent some significant cuts after each of the earlier rejections.
Repetition wasn’t limited to municipal financial matters. It was also déjà vu all over again in the reptile world. One week after an 8-foot reticulated python was discovered in a washing machine in Gorham, an even bigger snake was discovered trying to steal a pickup truck in Wilton.
OK, I admit I can’t be sure about the 9-foot python’s motives in crawling up under the engine of Harley Burgess’ vehicle. But hot-wiring seems likely. An animal control officer was summoned to take the creature into custody. State officials say reticulated pythons aren’t legal in Maine unless the owner has a special permit and no history of illegal entry into either cars or washing machines. The origin of these two reptiles remains a mystery, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they had something to do with influencing the outcome of local education votes.
Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 in Permalink
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