I read your editorial of June 18, “Fast budget cuts ill serve taxpayers” and feel I need to respond. The editorial addresses only a small aspect of the problem. You did not mention that only 137 registered voters were present at the annual town meeting where those cuts were mandated. Once a year, residents have the opportunity to decide how their tax money will be spent.

Wales is a small town with a very limited tax base. Most of our town government is represented by volunteers. Most committee or board meetings are open to the public.

State and federal mandates create havoc with already-stretched funds. Officials work very hard to keep our taxes manageable while attempting to meet these mandates.

I am a very strong advocate for education; however, as a taxpayer, I must also advocate for fiscal responsibility. If more people had participated in the budget process before the town meeting, they might have been able to find cuts or options that would have been more acceptable to the voters, and the school.

The majority of the voters in the town of Wales are willing to opt out of the decision-making process by not attending public meetings and participating in this very important process. They need to get involved.

The school board and educators do a fantastic job and truly care about our children, but they are faced with mandates and required programs that force them to make very difficult choices in these very trying economic times.

Alice DiPaolo, Wales