A Tax Override in Wellesley

The town I live in, Wellesley, Massachusetts, will vote tomorrow on a tax override that would increase taxes beyond the amount permitted under Prop 2 1/2, the Massachusetts property tax limitation law.   The situation illustrates the difficulties in imposing fiscal discipline on governments.  Even worse, the situation creates a moral dilemma for me.

The town has, in my opinion, spent like a drunken sailor over the past 10-15 years.  For example, the town built a new elementary school, which it may not have needed in the first place, and did so in extravagant fashion.  The town also rebuilt the main library even though the existing one was perfectly functional (and, to many, a warmer, more pleasant environment than the new cold, marble-laden structure).  The town also funded a Spanish language program in the elementary schools that both disrupted regular instruction, failed to impart much Spanish to the students, and costs hundreds of thousands per year.  And the town has installed numerous brick crosswalks instead of simple painted lines, generating frequent traffic in addition to the direct costs.

At the same time, the town has failed to allocate money to rebuild the middle school or high school, both of which are showing their age.  The middle school, as my children often remind me, still has maps that say "Korea," i.e. were printed before the North/South separation in the 1950s.

Now a new tax-override is before us.  Much of the proposed expenditure makes sense, yet voting "yes" means rewarding irresponsible spending behavior in the past and, presumably, encouraging more in the future.  To make matters more troubling for me, one item that will be funded should the override pass is a dedicated orchestra leader at the high school (this was cut last year because a previous override failed by 17 votes).   My daughter is in the orchestra, and she desperately wants me to vote yes.

So, what is the right apprpoach in these situations?  Do I vote with my principles, or my daughter?

Comments

[John Brothers]

Vote with your principles, because your daughter won't be well served, either by your lack of principle, or by the (most likely) utter failure of the government to actually deliver the goods on improving her education.

If it doesn't pass, take the money you would have had to spend, and spend it on her education in different ways.

But, in any case, it will probably pass, given that you live in Massachusetts...

[Russell Hanneken]

You could always vote no and tell your daughter you voted yes.

But really, what difference does it make how you vote--or, indeed, whether you vote? Whatever you decide to do, in all likelihood your actions won't determine whether the tax override passes.

[Anonymous]

Ah, your principles are fungible, your daughter's not.

[anomdebus]

Vote your conscience and teach your daughter the virtue of the secret ballot. Granted, it would have been better to have started it earlier, instead of at a pinch, making the contrast that less stark.
A virtuous non-answer would also be a possibility. "I voted for what I believe is best for the town". That will most likely be taken as a vote against her interests, but would at least refocus the reason why it was so.
You could also try to make it up to her by substituting the school band opportunity with something else. I don't know what sort of music programs are around you, so I can't be more specific.

When faced with a ballot question where I can't pick one option over others I frequently leave the question blank. I figure that if I can't be of one mind about something (and come up with a clear and defensible position) then I shouldn't cast a vote which is at best arbitrary. In your position I think I would probably vote against the override since it is the only signal a voter can send to which a democratic government has any obligation to listen. Also, the phrasing "dedicated orchestra leader" makes me wonder if there is a part-time orchestra leader like at some schools.

[Josh]

ANY economist -- let alone you Mr Miron -- not only willing to admit that he will vote, but also considering a tax hike (incoherent mumbling while I grab my chest and fall to the floor) ...

Sorry. You've got to vote 'no' here. You can't in good conscience reward your gov't's behavior.

[Josh]

WWBAD?

what would barbara anderson do?

[paul]

remember, its for the children... ; )