It was heady business when the nation turned its collective eye to New Hampshire for the first-in-the-nation presidential primary last month. But the votes have been counted and the candidates who swarmed the state have long since left for warmer climates.
Now, there's more serious business ahead for local voters. Town Meeting isn't as important to the rest of the country, but it matters a lot to town governments and local school districts.
And residents should stand up and be counted — their tax bills and futures depend on it.
There are annual budgets to be weighed and decided upon, reserve funds for sewer system and highway trucks, employee contracts, and officials to elect to lead towns and school districts through the next year or more.
Participation at deliberative sessions can be less than impressive. It shouldn't be. The budget proposals warrant careful scrutiny by every taxpayer who will contribute to them. Decisions about road repairs, conservation land purchases, putting money aside for equipment purchases and the size of a particular department should all weigh on every resident's mind.
Derry School District voters will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, to discuss and debate four warrant articles, including a $79 million budget plan, a three-year teachers contract and the formation of a charter high school for at-risk students.
All those proposals carry the recommendation of the School Board, but that shouldn't keep people at home. The warrant is ready, but voters can debate the expenditures, ask questions and amend the articles as they see fit.
On Monday, Feb. 6, Londonderry voters will meet in the high school cafeteria for the budgetary Town Meeting. There's no quorum requirement, so as few people as show up can determine what's on the ballot next month. Anyone who doesn't think a few hundred people should speak for more than 25,000, ought to show up.
There are 19 articles on the town warrant, including the election of officers that takes place next month.
Some of these articles carry hefty price tags and most are significant for the operation of the town over the next year.
High on that list is the question of whether to add four full-time firefighters to the department. After a horrific fire last year claimed the lives of two beloved residents, the fire department studied its response and determined more personnel were needed. Adding those employees — and paying for overtime to insure there are 10 people on every shift — would cost $240,115.
As tough as it may be to put a price on personal safety, the article would add an estimated 7 cents to the tax rate in fiscal year 2013. The Town Council was unanimous in its recommendation. The Budget Committee, with a tendency to keep a more watchful eye on spending, was less certain, voting 3-4 against the proposal.
Residents owe it to their leaders, their neighbors and themselves to go to the meeting and hear the reasoning behind those votes before casting their own next month.
The days of deliberative sessions as social gatherings have dimmed. While photographs of women knitting, gnarled hands clutching warrant proposals and children yawning from the floor still show up, it's often decidedly dry and tedious business planning for a town or school district's future.
No one said democracy was a walk in the park or entertaining. It is, however, a serious responsibility. Flex those democratic muscles and devote a morning or evening to listening, debating and participating.
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