by Elissa Yount
There is good news and bad news from the Henderson Referendum Committee on Joint Funding.
The State Board of Elections says that we cannot petition to have a referendum on the ballot unless it is a referendum about specific things such as the length of the term of office for city council, staggering the terms of office, reducing the number of council people, or changing our government to mayor-council. So, the bad news is that a referendum petitioned by the people will not automatically go on the ballot.
The good news is that even though a referendum would not be binding, it can still be an effective way to show our elected officials that the citizens want a vote in determining joint ventures. So, plans for getting signatures on a referendum are ongoing. The petition will be presented to the City Council asking them to place the issue on the ballot for a vote.
We will keep you updated on HiH of any and all developments. On or before May 26, 2009, the petition should be making the rounds. The editor has graciously agreed to put a copy of the petition for publication on Home In Henderson. All petitions will be collected by June 15, 2009. This will give the council 90 days to put forth a referendum, and it will give the local Board of Elections plenty of time to get a referendum on the ballot for the October municipal election cycle, should they choose to do so.
Thanks for all the positive feedback and encouragement. We are all working to make Henderson more prosperous for us all.