"Open" or "Closed"?

Here's an interesting refinement in the new voting procedure:

Under a new state-mandated budget process, district budgets go through a two-step approval process with the first step being a district budget meeting.

At that meeting, residents have the option of raising or lowering spending levels if the board keeps the articles open. If the board chooses to make the articles closed, spending cannot be increased.

[Superintendent] Colbry said the board opted to keep the articles closed because they were committed to lowering spending.

(from "SAD 54 voters OK budget at hearing" in yesterday's Morning Sentinel)

We'll have to see what boards in this area will choose to do.

And here's an idea that makes so much sense that we, too, wonder if it will pass legal muster!

Cape Elizabeth residents are set to vote on the school budget on June 10. If it fails, town officials want to know why.

Officials hope to pose a non-binding advisory question to residents on the same day. Voters will be asked whether the budget amount is "too high" or "too low," giving town councilors guidance on how to amend the budget, according to Town Clerk Ruth Noble.

Officials are awaiting legal advice from the Maine Municipal Association on whether the advisory question would need its own ballot.

(from a Portland Press Herald update, "Cape Elizabeth school budget: Too high or too low?")

Isn't it sometimes just amazing what you can learn through reading?