This Herald-Sun story about the crushing defeat of Durham’s food tax last month contains a key piece of information at the end that illustrates elections DO have consequences (emphasis is mine):

In coming months, government leaders will review the list of projects that were to have been funded by the tax and decide how to pay for the most important ones. Lower priority projects aren’t likely to be built any time soon.

Now it’s up to Durham voters to maintain this watchdog momentum and ensure that county officials craft a sensible, efficient funding plan for “how to pay for the most important ones” from existing revenue sources.