tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post5802203321220420594..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: The 18% Solution?Larry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-49618279466969387492017-02-16T21:26:36.696-05:002017-02-16T21:26:36.696-05:00Amherst Town Meeting votes in doubled override pro...Amherst Town Meeting votes in doubled override property tax increase without voters approval, http://NoDoubleOverride.comKevinhttp://nodoubleoverride.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-17827702573728110812017-02-16T19:19:18.623-05:002017-02-16T19:19:18.623-05:00Thanks Laura I'm just curious other than traff...Thanks Laura I'm just curious other than traffic flow/ possible cost per pupil raise thus raiding my taxes in Pelham without us getting to vite... This project has no real effect on me. It is just interesting.. yes Larry I do know the turn out will not be 66 I was just picking an easy number. Rebecca Casahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15674111106488990710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-74751095864493004412017-02-16T14:18:23.807-05:002017-02-16T14:18:23.807-05:00Sure it will survive, but also suffer when money i...Sure it will survive, but also suffer when money is wasted on such low RIO expenses. Families survive when members get sick, but we dont work towards getting sick and paying dearly for it. The nation has far more than rich Amherst to care about. There are actually people in need, vs. the locals in want. Then there are the people that earned the money folks are trying to special interest away from them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-18927274389531776702017-02-16T13:01:51.621-05:002017-02-16T13:01:51.621-05:00For the nation? Brahaha! I think the nation can su...For the nation? Brahaha! I think the nation can survive the building of an elementary school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-47017010355916655822017-02-16T12:24:04.112-05:002017-02-16T12:24:04.112-05:00There is more morally relevant math.
Folks would...There is more morally relevant math. <br /><br />Folks would condone a system where less than 5% of taxpayers can vote and the other 95% would have to comply? <br /><br />We have other more respected systems where we use the opposite logic. The courts and science. They both respect the 95% confidence interval because we know that 5% is irrelevant in a group of 100%. We launch rockets or send people to prison for life based on 95%. No reasonable group makes a huge decision like this on 5%. <br /><br />At 3000 yes votes, that is about $20,000 spent per vote at $60,000,000. Ironically, that is also the typical discount parents get per kid you send to the schools. <br /><br />I hope it is a no for the good of the local families, the state and the nation. Let's focus on something that will make the town better, like having more prosperous families paying less tax. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-36638631451776382522017-02-15T22:59:02.853-05:002017-02-15T22:59:02.853-05:00Rebecca Casa --
The 18% requirement is to get th...Rebecca Casa -- <br /><br />The 18% requirement is to get the <b>numeric equivalent of 18% of the "active registered voters"</b>. The "active registered voters" are a little more than 16k, and 18% of that number is just shy of 3000 (2,983 according to Larry above). <br /><br />I agree with Peter Vickery, as do all other lawyers I've spoken to: "shall <b>SO</b> vote" clearly refers to voting to reverse the decision of Town Meeting, which in this case means to vote to APPROVE the project. <br /><br />To sum up: TO pass this project, proponents need: <br />* around 2,983 people to vote FOR the project; AND<br />* 2/3 of whatever number vote to vote for the project. <br /><br />Here are three very close outcomes for example, assuming the 2,983 number: <br /><br />If 2,983 people vote FOR the project and 1490 vote AGAINST the project, the project passes: It has the minimum 18% voting to reverse town meeting and pass the project, AND it has 2/3 of the total vote needed to pass the project. <br /><br />If 2,983 people vote FOR the project and 1500 vote against it, then the project FAILS (because it failed to achieve 2/3 of the votes).<br /><br />If 2,980 people vote FOR the project, regardless of how many vote against it, then the project FAILS (because it failed to achieve the 18% requirement). <br />laura quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10381260620328688152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-65461518896753117432017-02-15T21:18:48.157-05:002017-02-15T21:18:48.157-05:00Well we only get a 66% turnout for a Presidential ...Well we only get a 66% turnout for a Presidential election. <br /><br />Should that miracle happen they would need two thirds of the voters to agree to overturn Town Meeting.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-12077704036966828402017-02-15T21:11:32.308-05:002017-02-15T21:11:32.308-05:00So if 18% overall turnout is not met then it doesn...So if 18% overall turnout is not met then it doesn't pass. But if 66 % turn out the 44 % have to vote yes for school? Is that correct ? Rebecca Casahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15674111106488990710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-14946433368254442572017-02-15T18:19:26.354-05:002017-02-15T18:19:26.354-05:00WHO CARES, raise the taxes. I live to support the ...WHO CARES, raise the taxes. I live to support the school system even though I have never had any children in it. God, can't we spend money where it is really needed like public safety and public works. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-45912292336434198032017-02-15T17:59:52.151-05:002017-02-15T17:59:52.151-05:00I just got my town census in the mail. Maybe town ...I just got my town census in the mail. Maybe town meeting should become a mailed survey where the whole town could vote on everything just like in the good old days!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-75400671838811014192017-02-15T17:30:49.836-05:002017-02-15T17:30:49.836-05:00What an educated town. Anon 4:42 not only asked re...What an educated town. Anon 4:42 not only asked reasonable questions, also posted how he or she (or ?) can find the answers. Looking forward to what was found out. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-49228740911216818912017-02-15T16:42:54.202-05:002017-02-15T16:42:54.202-05:00what % of registered voters (and how many register...what % of registered voters (and how many registered voters were there?) voted in the Nov election? Do we know how many are currently registered? Info from the Town registrar?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-25668751140711536812017-02-15T15:30:06.158-05:002017-02-15T15:30:06.158-05:00You can send a bill, but there would be no obligat...You can send a bill, but there would be no obligation to pay. <br /><br />How many people have to support a referendum to increase the 18% to 50% or more for future elections so this could be more reasonable? 18% seems awkwardly low. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-50111324273939413712017-02-15T15:28:59.095-05:002017-02-15T15:28:59.095-05:00Or put another way: 18% of active voters must vote...<br />Or put another way: 18% of active voters must vote ‘yes’ while <b>also</b> getting 2/3 of the vote..<br /><br />But that’s not how the town’s attorney had been ‘encouraged’ to interpret ‘shall so vote’. According this ‘new’ interpretation the 18% percent refers to voter turn-out???<br /><br />The Select board and School committee, wholly owned by the phony so-called ‘Amherst-for-All’ clique, already voted on passing this thing. They want their friggin’ MEGA-SCHOOL and they want it now, democratic process be damned!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-4428795934619098152017-02-15T15:10:11.809-05:002017-02-15T15:10:11.809-05:00Yes, I'm now pretty convinced that is the case...Yes, I'm now pretty convinced that is the case.<br /><br />Can we send a bill for services to the town?Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-53490336465771492412017-02-15T14:35:19.299-05:002017-02-15T14:35:19.299-05:00With all due respect to my fellow attorneys, the t...With all due respect to my fellow attorneys, the text is not ambiguous. Overturning the decision requires that 18% of all active voters "shall so vote." The word "so" is not redundant; it means that whatever the proportion necessary on a given question (one-half or two-thirds) that proportion must also constitute at least 18% of all active voters.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01203946302610654952noreply@blogger.com