'Keeping an eye' on school budgets

I sympathize with Brian Donnelly's comments about low voter turnout for the school budget. Even in a nation where only around 60 percent of voters turn out for presidential elections, a $185 million budget should draw more attention.
However, in this case, I understand some apathy. We sent our six kids to Catholic schools, but we always appreciated the positive impact on the community of a good public school system, and never complained too much about the school taxes (been here 34 years).
But I also recall that the few times we voters had the temerity to actually vote down a budget, the whole system seemed rigged to punish us.
I recall something called an "austerity budget" that our friends with kids in the schools complained just cut programs - busing, sports, art, music - that would inconvenience parents or make them feel miserly for demanding some fiscal controls.
Nothing "meaty" was ever cut. Eventually, voters would succumb and vote for a budget that felt a lot like the original.
If such a rigged system remains in place, then people might not get fired up about any budget that falls short of "outrageous."
I'm happy folks like Brian are still keeping an eye on things if a budget does get outrageous.
Mike McDonnell
Highland Mills