Charter question
tops ballot

This story appeared in the Derry News and was written by: Shelley J. Thompson

DERRY | Voters heading to the polls on Tuesday will be asked to decide whether to approve changing town government and a $73.7 million school budget proposal.

Those are just two of the many questions that will appear on the ballot along with the contested races for Town Council and School Board.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on March 13. Districts 1 and 4 vote at the Gilbert H. Hood Middle School, while Districts 2 and 3 vote at West Running Brook Middle School.

The most controversial question on the ballot will no doubt be the proposed charter change. The Charter Commission is proposing that the town adopt an official ballot form of government, under which voters would have the final say on the budget and big-ticket bonds | anything over 2<1/2> percent of the town's operating budget. It also proposes changing the town election date from March to May.

On the school side, voters will decide whether to support the proposed budget for 2007-08, which is $275,000 over the default budget.

Also on the ballot is an amended petition question to study whether to change the school election date to coincide with the town election. The petitioned question was aimed to keep the town and school elections on the same day if the town charter question passes, but voters at last month's deliberative session softened the question to ask voters if they want a study committee for the matter.