By Rich Pollack
The buzz is gone.
Normally the last weeks before referendum issues are decided are filled with presentations from town leaders, mail flyers explaining the rationale behind the ballot questions, and postcards being handed out to people strolling on the walking path.
This year, however, with Highland Beach residents having a chance to vote on three issues March 19 — including increasing the Town Commission spending cap from $350,000 to $900,000 — there’s been little talk about the issues.
“It’s been quiet,” says Town Manager Marshall Labadie.
One reason for that, Labadie says, could be that there is little opposition to any of the three ballot questions — the spending cap, a request for up to $3.5 million for a sewer lining project, and approval of a measure to allow the supervisor of elections office to oversee the town’s election canvassing board.
Another reason, Labadie says, could be a new state law that prohibits local governments from spending tax dollars to communicate with the public on ballot questions.
“We can no longer take the extra step to explain the rationale behind the questions or to produce insight into commission discussions about the issues,” he said. “We can’t do a lot of outreach.”
Labadie added: “There might be an element of the community who won’t be knowledgeable because we don’t have the ability to educate them about the questions at hand.”
Residents can still go to the town’s website to find the referendum questions and a short explanation of how the questions were chosen, and they can reach out to town leaders with any questions.
What impact the law will have on voter turnout is still unknown, Labadie said. While there are no races for the Town Commission or other local elected office to be decided, Republican voters will go to the polls to cast their ballots in the Presidential Preference Primary, which includes former President Donald Trump.
In a change from previous elections, in-person voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Highland Beach Library, 3618 S. Ocean Blvd., instead of at St. Lucy Catholic Church.
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