Island voters may express concern over the rising costs associated with town government, but last year only a small percentage participated in the annual town meeting decision-making that affected operating budgets in the six Island towns.
Taken as a whole, in April and May 2009 a total of 1,221 voters decided on $93 million in spending. The percentage of voters who attended annual town meetings ranged from a low of 6.3 percent of registered voters in Oak Bluffs — where 202 voters acted on a $24.1 million budget — to Aquinnah’s turnout of 66 voters, or 18 percent of the electorate.
Annual town meeting warrants and operating budgets for all towns but Aquinnah, which holds its annual on May 11, may be found at mvtimes.com.
