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Term limits for BOE may be on Nov. ballot
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Posted on Jun 17 2008
A legislative initiative limiting the term of office for Board of Education members may be on the ballot when the Commonwealth picks its first-ever congressional delegate on Nov. 4.
The proposed constitutional amendment cleared the Legislature last year, but did not make it to the 2007 election.
Julita Villagomez, the acting executive director of the Commonwealth Election Commission, said the initiative must be placed on the ballot for ratification on Nov. 4, 2008.
She asked the Legislature to appropriate $25,000 for the needed public education on the initiative.
The initiative proposes to limit elected board members to two four-year terms. The initiative increases the education system’s guaranteed budget from 15 percent to 25 percent of the general revenues of the Commonwealth. It also requires the government to make annual appropriations for the Public School System.
The initiative requires a majority of the votes cast to be ratified.
Proponents of a proposal to re-apply the Open Government Act to the Legislature are also hoping to get the popular initiative voted on this election.
It is not clear whether initiatives can legally be placed on the ballot in the delegate election. The Constitution requires that popular initiatives to amend a general law should be placed on the ballot at a regular general election. There is a debate as to whether the federal election in November is considered a “regular general election.”
