There are no campuses of public higher education in the 10 towns covered by the (Hardwick) Gazette,
so of what interest is the issue locally? Over the past several years,
the local school board and townspeople grappled with what to do with
the town's two schools: build anew, renovate, tuition, etc.
During the debates, an anonymous donor gave the school board a hefty
sum to assist the board's efforts to find a solution. The board was
adamant in its refusal to reveal the name of the donor. No one knew
whether the donor lived in town, had kids in the school system, had a
stake in the process, or anything. The school board used the donation
to help advance its quest to secure a bond to build a new school - a
policy decision that would have implications for every property
taxpayer in town.
The anonymous donor was an unseen face at the table. Unseen and
unaccountable but one whose donation had the potential to affect all
taxpayers of the town. Such a local scenario could easily happen at any
one of Vermont's public institutions of higher education. Without
transparency, policy decisions that could affect all taxpayers could be
impacted by an individual and an advancement officer who are able to
arrange for a donation behind closed doors.
A new building may require local zoning approval. Private residences or
land may be bought for a site for a new building, which would reduce a
municipality's Grand List and increase the local property tax rate.
Tuitions could rise for all students because of the need to increase
the institution's budget to maintain the new building. Who is sitting
at the table when the decision is debated?
An anonymous donor can sit there - unseen and unaccountable. Some
people in support of adding an anonymous donor exemption to the state's
public records law say a donor's privacy needs to be protected. The
amendment only offers anonymity to those giving $10,000 or more in a
year. Why do people with money need special treatment? Since when is
putting a price tag on transparency a part of the democratic process?
That is not how the needs and paths of public higher education should
be mapped, that is not how public policy should be formulated, and that
is not how a democracy should function.
The public's right to know the truth, transparency and accountability
are building blocks for democracy's foundation. They must not be
stepchildren when the public's business is conducted. Citizens still
have the opportunity to speak to their legislators before the vote and
let them know that this additional public records exemption is
undemocratic and has to stop.
(Reprinted courtesy of Ross Connelly, Hardwick Gazette.)
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