On May 16, the Sun Journal reported a turnout of 1.5 percent of the voters to approve the Lewiston school budget.

During the heat of the consolidation debate, several years ago, the 11th hour compromise was to offer transparency, so voters could approve school budgets.

I think we have reached a point in time when that transparency needs to be reconsidered. We elect a School Committee and a City Council to do the work of the voters. Regardless of the turnout, 1.5 percent of the voters (and dropping) interested in the issue sends a strong signal to Augusta that the requirement needs to be eliminated.

In view of the thousands of dollars it takes to mail the budget to citizens and open the polls, I would rather spend the funds on improved education than going through what has become a disinterested formality.

Peter Geiger, Lewiston