Pro-referendum Tactics
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Pro-referendum Tactics:
A review of newspaper articles, letters to the editor, referendum mailers, brochures and word of mouth prior to the November 4th referendum vote for Warren reveals a carefully thought out plan to obtain passage of the referendum.
Below are some of the top pro-referendum tactics used to persuade voters to vote “Yes” for the referendum.
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1. Figure out the hot buttons for your community and develop a propaganda campaign.
· Threaten to cut extra curricular activities.
· Threaten to increase class size.
· Threaten to cut the 8th period as Warren District 121 has.
· Threaten the children will suffer if the referendum does not pass.
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2. Never ever mention any annual windfall of tax dollars you receive (4-5% a year or more). With new growth comes additional revenue, so growth is not all negative.
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· Never mention raises well above the cost of living. Warren Township has consistently given 6%-10% or more per year, or about 2-4 times what the taxpayers in our community receive.
· Never mention the extravagant benefit plans, such as retirement after 30-years with full medical.
· Never offer any solutions such as pay cuts, pay freezes, year round school, or an increase in shared responsibility for healthcare coverage.
3. Make sure to let everyone know that none of this is the District's fault. Blame the State for lack of funding, blame the voters for not passing a referendum. Blame the problem on growth, but do not take any responsibility.
Do you recognize any or all of this? Its like a hostage negotiation where the District and Teachers Union is using our children as pawns to get what they want. What we find amazing is how the District and it's Board Members are so professional with their management of the referendum effort, their ability to forecast the cuts they will make should you "dare" to vote against the referendum. However when it comes to running the district, they couldn't use that same foresight to plan, budget, and spend responsibly to avoid the problem in the fist place.
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