I would feel uncomfortable doing this also. We do nothing like this at all. The budget is printed in a few of the local papers and its up to the parents to read it over and become informed. I usually have a copy available at the PTO meeting for parents to look at. But I have never asked how they are going to vote. I would only mention the date and ask them to go out and vote. Thats the extent of it for us.

Hi all. I would love everyone's opinion!
Here goes:
Our school budget vote is usually the third or fourth week in April. Sometime in March, all of the PTO's/PTA's in our district (there are 13 elementary schools) are asked to take a vote at a meeting stating if that particualr PTO/PTA is in suuport of the budget for the upcoming election. This comes from the board of education. I have a problem with this for a few reasons.
One: The vote does not count for anything. The only reason there is a vote, is so that the board of ed. can put flyers out in that particualar school, stating that so and so PTO/PTA approves the budget and you should go out and vote yes. If the vote is yes at the meeting, the flyer is then printed up, not with the board of ed address, but coming from the PTO/PTA. And we get the honor of paying for this as well! The board of ed does not support the PTO/PTA's monitarily at all.
Two: I don't think that people should be strongarmed on how to vote. I think it is more important that tey come out to vote-no matter how. In a district the size of ours (13 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high) only 1/8 of all registered voters come out. I think if they focused on getting the people out to vote, there might be a better chance of it passing.
The past board from our PTO used to hold a vote by a showing of hands. Last year, the new board (I am the V.P.) opted to do a silent vote. The prinipal and some teachers were not to happy. They said that the board should show support for the budget, because it would 'motivate' others to vote yes. Now I ask, is this not why there is a little curtain you close when you go to vote? We are not in the buisness of thumb screws, and we refused to have the vote by show of hands. We did the silent vote, and it was passed by the members. Why should the board show how they vote? And again, it does not really count for anything.
When I was just a parent at the meeting, I never raised my hand at the budget vote. Either yes or no. And that current board actrually had the nerve to ask me why I did not raise my hand to vote.
If you come to the budget presentation meeting (we now have a budget speaker, because we refuse to do the boards dirty work for them) and do not wish to silent vote, I beleve that is your choice.
What is the policy or proceedure in other areas, and do you have this problem?
(don't take me wrong, I beleve the budget is important, but the focus has been taken away form that, into vote yes yes yes!)