beagle - Your tax rate is the same as a resident's tax rate, correct? My point about the amenities is that *if* Alton or Center Harbor or Gilford, etc. were in a different location in the state and not a tourist community we'd most certainly have a different budget. Certainly, we all benefit from the amenities here in our town; it's a terrific place to raise a family. But there's things that have to be budgeted for that you wouldn't see in a "normal" budget. Your point about money raised by non-voting property tax payers is not lost on me. Quite frankly, I was surprised when the warrant for the school renovations passed.
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fll - you are correct that it can take just a few registered voters to convene at a town meeting to make decisions for an entire budget, warrant article, etc.
Recent example...
Barnstead had a special meeting last Saturday to discuss and vote on the teachers' contract for PMHS. The cost of the contract was about $16,500 for a one year contract. A total of 93 votes were cast; 26 votes were in favor, and 67 votes were against the contract.
There are 2,928 registered voters in Barnstead, according to the town's website. So, that decision was made by about
3% of the registered voters in town.
This is one of the arguments use for having a town go to SB-2 style voting, which is what Alton has now. I'm no fan of SB-2, and that has already been fodder for another thread....
