HARTLAND
Town Meeting Tues., March 1 at 9 a.m. (Floor Vote) Damon Hall
On Tuesday, March 1 at 9 a.m. Town Meeting will commence at Damon Hall. A proposal has been made by the board of selectmen raising the town budget to $2.47 million an increase of $63,100, or 2.6 percent, from last year.
Due to an expected income increase of $40,100, or 6.9 percent over the previous year, this year’s budget amount to be raised by taxes under the 201617 budget will be $1.85 million, an increase of $23,000, or 1.3 percent. The town is estimating a slight increase of half a cent in the municipal tax rate, which in turn will carry a property tax increase of $12.50 for property owners on an assessed home/property valued at $250,000.
The lister’s office budget shows an increase of approximately $48,000, or 102.7 percent which will allow the town to fill necessary provisions needed for additional personnel. The town clerk’s budget increases $9,900, or 17.5 percent in preparation for the retirement of Town Clerk Clyde Jenne and assistant Bruce Locke. The treasurer’s budget is also increasing $12,300, or 60 percent, due to Locke’s retirement.
According to Town Manager Bob Stacey’s comments in regards to budget planning, spending will include a $24,400, or 2.5 percent increase in the highway fund, in due part to replace a culvert damaged in July of 2013 by physical weathering on Densmore Hill Road. Hartland is set to provide 20 percent of the expense, with the residual 80 percent of the cost managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Additionally, the town has increased the paving budget by $10,000.
According to the Hartford School Board agenda, granted the voters of the Hartland School District approve the school board to expend the proposed $8.8 million budget for the projected expenses of the 2016-17 fiscal school year, averaging an increase of approximately $545,000 over the current year’s.
The amount the school district spends per pupil determines its tax rates; if approved, this proposed budget will account for the education spending of $15,532 when calculating spending per equalized pupil, resulting in a 6.06 percent decrease than the spending for the current year.
In addition to the budget, granted voters intend the Hartland Board of School Directors to withdraw $100,000 from the capital reserve fund to commission improvements.
The school board’s annual report has stated the homestead school tax rate under the proposed budget is expected to decline by approximately 12 cents per $100 in assessed property value, leading to a decline of $304 on a $250,000 home.
The polls will open at 7 a.m. and run until 7 p.m. at Damon Hall for voting on town and school district officers, the school budget and ballot questions and the presidential primary.
— Noella May Pickett
This article first appeared in the February 25, 2016 edition of the Vermont Standard.