Official Ballot Voting (SB2) for HB COOP

Transcription

1 Official Ballot Voting (SB2) for HB COOP MARCH 6-7, 2019

2 What is Official Ballot Voting (SB2)? SB2 is a method to conduct school district meetings in two sessions 1) Deliberative Session (held in February) Same as current District Meeting format - open to all voters with debate, discussion, amendments, and motions Finalizes warrant articles for Ballot Voting Session (below) Main difference final vote to approve/disapprove warrant articles occurs during Ballot Voting Session 2) Ballot Voting Session (held second Tuesday in March) Private ballot vote on each warrant article from deliberative session Held at same time as town/school district elections, zoning questions Voting can be done anytime 7 am to 7:30 pm or by absentee ballot

3 Operating Budget Operating Budget COOP will always have an operating budget. It will be one of the following: Proposed Operating Budget from Deliberative Session OR Default Operating Budget Same as previous year with certain adjustments, e.g. reduced by one-time expenditures contained in the previous year operating budget determined by the COOP Budget Committee in compliance with RSA 40:13 Note: Proposed Operating Budget can be higher or lower than Default Operating Budget

4 Advantages of Official Ballot Voting (SB2) Increased voter participation Two opportunities to participate: Deliberative Session and Ballot Voting Session 30+ days to understand warrant articles Understand and ask questions on advantages/disadvantages and tax impacts Increased visibility of warrant articles to public Fact checking Privacy of ballot voting Flexibility to vote any time on Election Day, or by absentee ballot Business travel, College students, Military members, Snow Birds Those unable to attend current school district meeting still get to vote Do not need to remain at current school district meeting that often goes to midnight or later at night

5 Disadvantages of Official Ballot Voting (SB2) Board, Budget Committee, and/or proponents of warrant articles need to communicate the merits of the warrant articles Before the deliberative session During the deliberative session During 30+ day period between the Deliberative Session and Ballot Voting Session Tabling of warrant articles is not allowed all warrant articles are placed on ballot for the Ballot Voting Session Reconsideration of articles is not permitted a passed or defeated article cannot be brought up later in the meeting

6 HB COOP District Meeting History 2014: three sessions Mar 3, Mar 6, Mar : two sessions Jan 12 (apportionment), Mar : one session Mar : one session Mar : five sessions over 14 hours of meetings Mar (2:30 am), Mar 22 (11:30 pm), Apr 2, Apr 3 (all day reconsideration vote), Apr : at least two sessions planned Mar 6, Mar : number of sessions? Apportionment up for consideration

7 Brookline: Voter Checklist, Ballot Voting, BSD Attendance

8 Brookline: Voter Checklist, Ballot Voting, BSD Attendance SB2

9 Brookline: Ballot Turnout, BSD Turnout

10 Brookline: Ballot Turnout, BSD Turnout SB2

11 Support Official Ballot Voting (SB2) for HB COOP! More opportunities to participate with two sessions (Deliberative and Ballot Voting) Provides a longer and more informed discussion on all warrant articles Ensures privacy and ability to vote to all voters Increased voter participation leads to Fiscally responsible spending and reasonable property taxes Better outcomes that are in the best interest of the entire community

12 Who uses Official Ballot Voting (SB2)? Towns (70) Alexandria Allenstown Alstead Alton Amherst Ashland Atkinson Auburn Barrington Belmont Bennington Bethlehem Canaan Candia Carroll Charlestown Conway Danbury Danville Deerfield East Kingston Epping Epsom Exeter Fremont Gilford Gilmanton Goffstown Grafton Greenland Hampstead Hampton Hampton Falls Hooksett Hudson Kensington Kingston Lee Litchfield Littleton Londonderry Merrimack Milford Milton New Boston New Durham New Hampton New Ipswich Newfields Newmarket Newport Newton North Hampton Northwood Pelham Peterborough Plaistow Raymond Rindge Rye Salem Sandown Seabrook Sunapee Swanzey Wakefield Weare Winchester Windham Wolfeboro

13 Who uses Official Ballot Voting (SB2)? Local Districts (61) Allenstown Local Deerfield Local Greenland Local Littleton Local Newmarket Local Seabrook Local Alton Local Derry Local Hampstead Local Londonderry Local Newport Local South Hampton Local Amherst Local East Kingston Local Hampton Falls Local Madison Local North Hampton Local Sunapee Local Ashland Local Epping Local Hampton Local Mason Local Northwood Local Wakefield Local Auburn Local Epsom Local Henniker Local Merrimack Local Nottingham Local Weare Local Barrington Local Exeter Local Hooksett Local Middleton Local Pelham Local Winchester Local Bedford Local Farmington Local Hudson Local Milford Local Raymond Local Windham Local Brookline Local Fremont Local Keene Local Milton Local Rollinsford Local Candia Local Claremont Local Conway Local Gilford Local Gilmanton Local Goffstown Local Kensington Local Lebanon Local Litchfield Local Mont Vernon Local New Boston Local Newfields Local Rumney Local Rye Local Salem Local

14 Who uses Official Ballot Voting (SB2)? Cooperative Districts (20) ConVal Exeter COOP Fall Mountain Kearsarge Mascenic Mascoma Governor Monadnock Wentworth Newfound Area Hillsboro-Deering Oyster River Jaffrey-Rindge Pemi-Baker John Stark Sanborn Shaker Souhegan Timberlane White Mountains Winnacunnet

15 Official Ballot Voting (SB2) To adopt, ballot measure requires 60% supermajority YES votes to adopt SB2 No town or school district has ever rescinded SB2 once it was adopted it works!

16 Please support SB2 for the HB Cooperative District on Tuesday, March 12