What is Southborough's Town Meeting?
Southborough's legislature is its open Annual Town Meeting, held annually in April. Any registered voter can attend, discuss the issues before the Town, and vote.
At the Annual Town Meeting voters decide on how much money the Town should raise through taxes in the upcoming year, and thereby determine the property tax rate. In addition voters set budgets for all Town departments and for the Schools. So if you think that taxes are too high or functions are underfunded, this is your place to effect a change. Lastly voters decide such items as zoning and other Town Bylaw changes.
With signatures of 10 voters any citizen can place a proposal before Town Meeting.
What is this web site?
This web site gives anyone a chance to see the issues that are coming before Town Meeting and to discuss them with other citizens. You can also express your views to Town officials. Discussing them here may help to sharpen your views or to organize others who share your views , but it is no substitute for attending Town Meeting. To affect decisions you must appear at Town Meeting and vote.
Who is the Advisory Committee and why are they sponsoring this site?
The Advisory Committee is a committee of Southborough residents which is charged with analyzing each issue that comes before Town Meeting and making a recommendation. It functions as the Town's Finance Committee, since all budgets come before Town Meeting, but it also prepares recommendations on non-budget matters as well. It has prepared this web site to encourage wider citizen awareness and participation in Town issues.
Southborough's legislature is its open Annual Town Meeting, held annually in April. Any registered voter can attend, discuss the issues before the Town, and vote.
At the Annual Town Meeting voters decide on how much money the Town should raise through taxes in the upcoming year, and thereby determine the property tax rate. In addition voters set budgets for all Town departments and for the Schools. So if you think that taxes are too high or functions are underfunded, this is your place to effect a change. Lastly voters decide such items as zoning and other Town Bylaw changes.
With signatures of 10 voters any citizen can place a proposal before Town Meeting.
What is this web site?
This web site gives anyone a chance to see the issues that are coming before Town Meeting and to discuss them with other citizens. You can also express your views to Town officials. Discussing them here may help to sharpen your views or to organize others who share your views , but it is no substitute for attending Town Meeting. To affect decisions you must appear at Town Meeting and vote.
Who is the Advisory Committee and why are they sponsoring this site?
The Advisory Committee is a committee of Southborough residents which is charged with analyzing each issue that comes before Town Meeting and making a recommendation. It functions as the Town's Finance Committee, since all budgets come before Town Meeting, but it also prepares recommendations on non-budget matters as well. It has prepared this web site to encourage wider citizen awareness and participation in Town issues.