One of the great benefits of living in our community is the compassion most that live here show towards their neighbors. Just look at how many organizations are out there trying to do good within this region, meals, to heating assistance, rides shares, volunteer emergency responders, houses of spiritual worship, and more.
Another interesting trait of New England towns is the manner in which we govern ourselves. This time of year, it especially comes into focus as our reporters cover the various budget committees including school committee, and select board meetings that lead up to town meetings.
Nothing seems to get people fired up more than paying taxes, and it can often lead to some heated discussion. It is good we all get a say in how our local governments function, but we still need to make sure we keep things civil. Often a more effectively conveyed message is one that is presented with facts and a calm demeanor.
If you want to have an impact on how tax dollars are spent, showing up to your town’s annual meeting is actually coming in a bit late in the process. These meetings are the culmination of months of work by several committees or boards, all made up of volunteers trying to come up with the correct level of service for their towns.
If you have ideas, attend the workshops, contact a committee member, or try to serve on one of the committees yourself.
We do not all need to agree. Public debate is an important part of our governance. However, we can all be kind to one another, and foster an environment where neighbors are there for each other.
