I would like to share a few thoughts on information. The blog world, facebooke, myspace, instant message and all the other social networks really keeps folks in touch. But in a rural small town, without anything but dial up service, where most people are blue collar workers - getting the word out is all but impossible. Second to that is getting folks to understand certain programs and complete PAPERWORK.
I talking around town with friends (very little of them) and neighbors I am shocked to find that many or most have never heard of the homestead exemption. The state program that reimburses the town up to $13,000 of valuation and reduces your taxes by $13,000 evaluation or at 11.11 mill rate per $1,000 = $145 off your tax bill. You can say its in the town report, but do people one get the report and two do they read and understand it? There is also a veterans and farm exemption program.
Then comes the land use ordinance. I asked about what people thought about the proposed ordinance and if they had heard about it. The answer was no, yet they do remember seeing the ads in the recent newsletter, but the rest was jumbo reading. Needs to be flashy, eye catchers and pictures. I told most they could view the document on line - but no internet service or the town office, it was a few hundred pages long - we don't go to the office except to register the car and certainly don't have time to read such a document.
Then a resident gave it to me straight. We get up at 5 a.m., get ready for work, kids for school. Go to work, then home, school work, try to figure out supper. We are worried about what we can afford for groceries and how to make rent/house payment and gasoline for the car. Then to bed and get ready for the next day. The only paper we read is at work, if they get it. Family is first, don't have time to travel around and visit all these things. Our only day off is weekends, the town office is closed and if it was open, that is our family time.
There you have it in a nut shell! And I think this is the case for most working people. Only self employed or retired folks really have the time to committ to learning all these things. Those others that are involved are gifted and are cutting down on family time without question.
So how to we inform our citizens about programs that can save them money? I was talking with people that bought homes and didn't know about the thousands they can get back under the federal program. People that don't have health or let alone life insurance. Folks that don't know how to do a 1040 form.
Very few knew about the food pantry.
EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH IS BROKE, there is little if any savings and decisions are being made daily on fuel oil or groceries. So many are laid off - about 75 of our 750or so residents.
I don't have the answers, but when folks aren't educated by the their leaders about basic programs we have problems. I really would like to hear any ideas that you might have on how we can educate our residents.
