Our community is our investment. Voting on the Town of Guilford budget on Tuesday, April 19 has a direct impact on the quality of our lives. Too many residents don’t bother to vote at town budget referenda and yet these referenda have a direct impact on our lives. Please don’t think it doesn’t matter, it does matter.

It is the education of our children. As a community, we cannot fail to prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow. Our state-of-the-art high school awaits them. We build it; now is the time we follow-up!

It is our first responders. Remember they are the ones that are out when we are all safely inside.

It is the roads on which we drive. Sometimes chip-sealing is not enough and we have to reconstruct the roads.

It is the recreational fields our children play on and programs our community enjoys.

It is the outdoor concerts on hot summer nights on our beautiful Green and Jacobs Beach.

It is the Senior Tax Relief Program, a commitment by the Town of Guilford to help our seniors remain in their homes in the twilight of their lives. It is a moral obligation and one that should be supported.

Now consider how this budget presented to the townspeople for the 2016-2017 year matters. This budget maintains property tax stability while providing the quality of life we enjoy.

What if all of these and more were not there or cut because residents couldn’t take five minutes to vote? We encourage your readers to take a moment and vote on Tuesday, April 19; all polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots are available now at Town Hall. It does matter.

Veronica C. Wallace

Gloria Nemczuk

Guilford

Veronica C. Wallace chairs the Democratic Town Committee. Gloria Nemczuk chairs the Republican Town Committee.