A 9% registered voter turnout for the East Lyme budget is very disappointing: 1,238 out of 13,756. As disappointing as that is, it is still 100 times greater than the proposed Town Meeting method. At least you have a accurate count of the voters who did vote and their position. About 60% were in favor, but about 40% were not in favor of the proposed budget. The 40% in opposition should be a signal to our leadership that all is not well.

The BOS tasked the Charter Revision Committee with 13 items to consider for Charter Revision, one being the elimination of an automatic referendum. What a horrible idea! The committee is proposing that the budget only go to referendum if it exceeds the previous years budget by 5%, which for next year, 2024/2025, would be $4.3 million.

You could of course petition for a referendum! Our town is growing and the ability to provide proper governance is fading under our current system. Time for a Town Manager Government. Please come out on June 6, to voice your opinion, Middle School, 7 p.m.

Mike Schulz

East Lyme