Summary

This amendment shifts approval of the annual municipal budget from the traditional in-person open Town Meeting (which has historically had low turnout) to a secret ballot referendum, similar to the process used for RSU 14 school budgets. It aims to increase resident participation and accessibility (including via absentee ballots).

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Key features:

• The Town Council gains flexibility in how to present the budget to voters.

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• If portions of the budget are rejected at the referendum, a special open Town Meeting can be called to address those specific items.

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• The timeline for the Town Manager to prepare and submit the budget is adjusted to fit the referendum process.

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• If approved, the change generally takes effect January 1, 2027.

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Official Ballot Language (Question 1)

Shall the Town approve charter amendment summarized below, to be effective January 1, 2027?

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To amend Article V (Budget) and Article VIII (The Town Meeting) of the Town Charter to:

• Change the method of Town Meeting’s voting on the annual budget from an open town meeting to a secret ballot referendum;

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• Provide for a special open Town Meeting to be held to consider portions of the annual budget rejected at the secret ballot referendum;

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• Authorize the Town Council to choose how to present the budget to voters for approval; and

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• Adjust the timeline for the Town Manager to prepare and submit the proposed annual budget to the Town Council for review, to accommodate use of the secret ballot referendum process.

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https://windhamweb.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=PA&ID=1432736&GUID=D110439C-AED3-4650-8FD8-616CEFFA654B​