TO TH EEDITOR: THE NORTHFIELD NEWS IN "VOTE To Reconsider School Budget May Have Been Illegal" (The Northfield News, 04/22/10), there was a partial quote attributed to me regarding why I favored changing to Australian balloting for future Williamstown School District budget votes.

I have no truck with what was presented as my words: indeed I do feel a benefit will be an opportunity for more people to voice their views in the final decision. Our two floor votes for the school budget this year have seen first about 150 and then less then 220 participants. This compares very unfavorably to the more than 400 folks who cast votes at a recent Australian ballot style decision to determine whether or not we continue with the town manager style of governance (yes - we continue).

Barely breaking the 200 voter barrier is no way to ascertain the will of the community in a town of approximately 2,000 registered voters.

What I was sorry to see missed was my primary reason for becoming a strong proponent of the Australian ballot: it has, in my view, been years since folks hadn't made up their minds regarding our local school budget prior to walking in the door. This was reflected at both budget votes this year with an emphasis on the second one where a clear majority didn't want to so much as discuss the issue.

This is the reality in our town. I don't say this with the claim it is good or bad, but it is what we as Williamstown have to deal with. I believe in the end we have lost absolutely nothing by taking the school budget off the floor and putting it in the voting booth. We now stand a good chance of greatly increasing participation in the decisions around a multi-million dollar budget that affects not only our pocketbooks but our children too.

There are two additional things to keep in mind regards school budgets and Australian balloting: a recent change in law means we can now discuss the budget on the floor at town meeting, and in the case we do not have a budget approved by the end of June state law (Title 16, Chapter 9, Section 566) gives the school board the authority to borrow up to 87 per cent of the last approved budget to ensure our schools will open and operate on time.

I love the give and take of town meeting, but I'm glad voters approved moving the school budget to Australian ballot. Just don't forget that town meeting discussions are no substitute for well attended informational hearings.

RAMA SCHNEIDER School Board Member

Williamstown