Town Meeting Day 2023: What’s on the ballot in Chittenden County communities?
Correction: The South Burlington School District budget is a 7.1% increases over the previous year. The size of the incorrect in an earlier version of this story.
Clarification: The ballot items for Burlington have been reordered to conform with the way they appear on the ballot.
It's that time of the year again: a day for Vermonters to participate in democracy by voting on local issues that affect their communities and choosing candidates to represent them in their municipal governments.
Town Meeting Day is Tuesday, March 7, and residents in towns all over Vermont will be voting on this day.
Many towns will be holding public informational meetings before Town Meeting Day to discuss the items on the ballots, including the town budget, selectboard and or city council elections, special requests for money and other items.
Here are election and ballot information compiled by town to help Chittenden County voters prepare for the big day:
Bolton, Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex Junction, Essex Town, Hinesburg, Huntington, Jericho, Milton, Richmond, St. George, Shelburne, South Burlington, Underhill, Westford, Williston, Winooski, Burlington School District, Champlain Valley School District, Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District, Milton School District, South Burlington School District, Winooski School District
Bolton
Meeting: There will be an in-person informational meeting about town officer elections and ballot questions and a town vote on the budget, property tax payment dates and allocation of uncommitted general funds at 7 p.m. on March 6 at Smilie Memorial School. A Cake Coffee Cider hour will begin at 6:30 p.m. The budget will be voted on March 6 in person. Elections for town officers and ballot questions will be held on March 7 at the polls.
Voting: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7 at Smilie Memorial School, 2712 Theodore Roosevelt Highway (U.S. 2)
Proposed Town Budget: $1,342,280, 15.2% higher than last year.
Select board:
Incumbent Andrew Pond is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Incumbent Lynda DesLauriers is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Incumbent Leah Scott is running unopposed for a one-year term.
Incumbent Rich Reid is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Items: There are three ballot items before Bolton voters:
Shall the voters of the Town of Bolton authorize the Select Board to add a one quarter cent addition to the tax rate to support the Conservation Fund?
Shall the voters of the Town of Bolton authorize the purchase or lease of a Pumper Tanker for the Bolton Fire Department, price not to exceed $415,000, to be financed over a period not to exceed ten years?
Shall the voters of the Town of Bolton vote to fill the office of Constable by appointment of the Select Board rather than by election, in accordance with State Statutes, Title 17 V.S.A. §2651a?
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District informational meeting: 6 p.m., March 2, in person at Mount Mansfield Union High School at 211 Browns Trace Road in Jericho or virtually via Google Meet at https://meet.google.com/gzt-hjuw-iqg or call in at 1-541-797-0412 PIN: 146 461 745#.
Proposed school district budget: $55,274,112, a 5.4% increase over current budget.
Burlington
Meeting: There will be no in-person meetings.
Voting: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7
All registered Burlington voters will be mailed a ballot by Feb. 15. This can be used as an absentee ballot that can be mailed in or put in a ballot drop box. It can also be brought to a voter’s polling place on March 7. Voters who do not bring their ballots can still access a ballot at their polling place
Look up polling places by ward here: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/CT/Maps-Wards-State-Districts-and-Polling-Places
Proposed Town Budget: The Burlington City Council votes on the city’s budget in the summer.
City Council:
North District: Incumbent Mark Barlow, I, is running unopposed for a two-year term.
South District: Incumbent Joan Shannon, D, is running against Will “Billy” Anderson, P, and Faried Munarsyah, I, for a two-year term.
East District: Timothy Doherty Jr., D, is running against Jake Schumann, P, for a two-year term.
Central District: Melo Grant, P, is running against Avery Muzikar, I, for a two-year term.
Ward 8: Rhone Allison, P, is running against Hannah King, D, for a one-year term.
Items (listed in numbered order seen on ballot):
1. Burlington School District proposed budget: $104,144,584, 6.0% increase over current budget.
2. Carbon pollution impact fee: If passed, this will allow City Council to pass a resolution to put into place a fee in the construction permitting process for any new construction as well as existing commercial or industrial buildings that are 50,000 square feet or larger where fossil fuel heating or water heating systems (instead of those that run off renewable energy or renewable fuels) are installed. The fee could be up to $150 per ton and could rise annually, no more than 5%. Caveat: The fee would not apply to water heating systems in new, multi-family residential buildings with more than four units until 2026. Existing residential and small business buildings as well as buildings less than 50,000 square feet would not be affected. The money from the fees could go toward the city's efforts to electrify the city's vehicle fleet, a fund to help low-income Burlingtonians switch to a cleaner heat source or toward an owner's own projects to reduce greenhouse gas usage in their buildings.
The rest of ballot items are charter changes, which, if passed, would go on to the Legislature and governor for approval after Town Meeting Day.
3. Redistricting: This ballot item, if passed, would establish new ward boundaries created by the city with resident input.
4. All resident voting: This ballot item, if passed, would make it possible for legal residents who are not U.S. citizens to vote in municipal elections.
5. Polling place location flexibility: If passed, this ballot item would make it possible for a ward’s polling places to be located outside of a ward’s boundaries if it is still in close proximity to the ward residents.
6. Ranked choice voting in mayoral elections: If passed, this ballot item would establish ranked choice voting for mayoral elections as well as elections for school commissioners and ward election officers. City councilors already are elected by ranked choice voting.
7. Independent Community Control Board: This ballot item, if passed, would establish a citizen oversight board over the Burlington Police Department which would handle disciplinary issues and complaints. They would have the power to discipline and fire officers and the police chief.
8. General authority for initiative and referendum: If passed, this ballot item would give power to registered voters of Burlington to put nonbinding questions, propose ordinances and repeal ordinances on ballots if they petition 5% of voters. Currently, registered voters can only petition to put charter changes on ballots.
School Board:
North District: Incumbent Kendra Sowers is running unopposed for a two-year term.
South District: Incumbent Jeff Wick is running unopposed for a two-year term.
East District: Gary Golden is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Central District: Incumbent Jean Waltz is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Charlotte
Informational meeting: 7 p.m. Monday, March 6, Charlotte Library Community Room, 115 Ferry Road, Charlotte
Voting: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, Charlotte Town Hall, 159 Ferry Road. Voters can request an absentee ballot by calling the town clerk’s office at (802) 425-3071, stopping in the office in person at 159 Ferry Road, or going online to the Secretary of State’s my voter page, https://mvp.vermont.gov/
Proposed town budget: $4,221,070, up 11.4% from the current budget
Selectboard:
Kelly Devine and Patrice MacHavern are running for a two-year term for a seat now held by Louis Mudge.
Louis Mudge is running unopposed for a three-year seat now held by Matt Krasnow, who is not seeking reelection
Items:
An allocation of $965,806 to Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
An allocation of $324,356 to the Charlotte Library for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Champlain Valley School District informational meeting: 5 p.m., Monday, March 6, Champlain Valley Union High School
Proposed school district budget: $96,119,804, a 7.5% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Shall the school district allocate $600,000 of its current fund balance as revenue for the 2023-2024 school year and allocate $1,377,414 of the fund balance to future budgets?
Shall the school district borrow up to $395,000 to purchase three school buses?
School Board:
One three-year term position as a school director is open, however no one is running for that seat. At least 30 write-ins of the same name are required in order to fill that position.
Colchester
Informational meeting: 7 p.m. on Monday, March 6, Colchester High School Auditorium.
Voting: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7 at the Colchester High School Auditorium. An absentee ballot can be requested by visiting the Secretary of State's website mvp.vermont.gov, by calling the Town Clerk's office at 802-264-5520, or by visiting the Town Clerk Office at 781 Blakely Road, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Proposed town budget: $15,028,386, an 8.3% increase from the current budget.
Selectboard:
Jacki Murphy is running unopposed for a two-year seat. She currently serves on the Selectboard as clerk.
Incumbent Maureen Dakin is running unopposed for a three-year seat.
Items:
Will Colchester use its existing 1% local option tax funds to issue $6,907,000 in general obligation bonds for building a recreation center? More information on this ballot item can be found here: https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2023/01/30/recreation-center-for-colchester-voters-decide-on-town-meeting-day/69844475007/
Colchester School District proposed budget: $52,401,407, a 7.9% increase over current budget.
School Board:
Incumbent Ben Yousey-Hindes is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Incumbent Lindsey A. Cox is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Essex Junction
The annual meeting will be held April 11 and voting details are not yet available.
Essex Westford School District's election will also occur on April 11.
Essex Westford School District informational meeting: April 10, details yet to be announced.
Proposed school district budget as of Feb. 6: $110,093,540, a 5.5% increase over current budget.
School Board: two seats were expected to be available, both for three-year terms.
Essex Town
Informational meeting: 7 p.m. Monday, March 6, Essex Cinemas (Double E Performance Center entrance), 21 Essex Way
Voting: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, Essex Middle School, 60 Founders Road. Voters can request absentee ballots at the Essex Town Clerk’s office, 81 Main Street, Essex Junction, call (802) 879-0413 (option 6), or email clerk@essex.org. Early/Absentee ballots may also be requested online at https://mvp.vermont.gov/.
Proposed town budget: $15,401,152, a decrease in expenditures of $1,274,089, down 7.6% from the current budget. Due to the town losing 41 percent of its grand-list tax base with the separation of the village of Essex Junction, the budget is expected to lead to a municipal tax-rate increase of 22%; inflation is also a factor, according to Town Manager Greg Duggan, including an increase in health-insurance premiums of approximately 20%.
Selectboard:
Incumbent Ethan Lawrence is running unopposed for three-year seat.
Incumbent Andrew J. Watts is running unopposed for three-year seat.
Items:
Increase the capital reserve fund by adding 1 cent to the tax rate, in addition to the 2 cents previously authorized, to finance capital projects.
Reorganize the town Charter as recommended by the Charter Review Committee.
Amend the town charter to have the authority to adopt and enforce ordinances to regulate, license and fix reasonable and necessary license fees.
Amend the town Charter to give the Selectboard the power to enact an ordinance to protect residential tenants from eviction without just cause.
Amend the town Charter to allow for the recall of Selectboard members.
Amend the town Charter to create a Development Review Board to replace the Zoning Board of Adjustment by Jan. 1, 2025, following passage by the Vermont Legislature.
Essex Westford School District has a separate vote on April 11.
Essex Westford School District informational meeting: April 10, details yet to be announced.
Proposed school district budget as of Feb. 6: $110,093,540, a 5.5% increase over current budget.
School Board: two positions were expected to be available. One for a three-year term and one for a one-year term.
Hinesburg
Meeting: 7 p.m., Monday, March 6, Champlain Valley Union District High School, 369 CVU Road
Voting: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 7, Town Hall, 10632 Vermont 116
Proposed town budget: $4,798,709, a 0.2% increase over current budget
Selectboard:
Incumbent and current chair Merrily Lovell running unopposed for a three-year term.
Incumbent Dennis Place running unopposed for a two-year term.
Paul Lamberson running unopposed for the remaining year of a two-year term, created when former Selectboard member Phil Pouech was elected to the Legislature.
Items:
Appropriate $40,050 for nine non-profit organizations, with more than half of the sum − $23,100 − going to Hinesburg Community Resource Center.
Purchase a pumper/tanker for the fire department for not more than $850,000, financed over a period not to exceed 10 years.
Champlain Valley School District informational meeting: 5 p.m., Monday, March 6, Champlain Valley Union High School
Proposed school district budget: $96,119,804, a 7.5% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Shall the school district allocate $600,000 of its current fund balance as revenue for the 2023-2024 school year and allocate $1,377,414 of the fund balance to future budgets?
Shall the school district borrow up to $395,000 to purchase three school buses?
School Board:
Cassandra Townshend is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Huntington
Meeting: 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, Brewster Pierce Memorial School.
Voting: 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, Brewster Pierce Memorial School; absentee ballots email or call Clerk Heidi Racht at (802) 434-2032 or email huntingtonelectionelections@gmavt.net.
Proposed town budget: $2,122,712, up 4.9% from current budget.
Selectboard:
Incumbent Dori Barton is running against James R. Haddad for a two-year term.
Incumbent Larry Haskins Jr. is unopposed for a three-year term.
Items: (by floor vote unless otherwise indicated):
Authorize payment of real property taxes in four installments in August, November, February and May.
Transfer up to $100,000 from the fund balance in the general fund to the highway bridge reserve fund to be used for bridge repairs and/or reconstruction, including the Main Road Bridge near Texas Hill Road.
Transfer up to $75,000 from the fund balance in the general fund to the buildings and grounds reserve fund for municipal building maintenance including exterior painting work on the town office, town hall and public library.
Adopt amendments to the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulation and flood hazard area regulations, now one document called the Huntington land use regulations, as approved for voting by the Selectboard on Jan. 9 (by secret ballot).
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District informational meeting: 6 p.m., Thursday, March 2, in person at Mount Mansfield Union High School at 211 Browns Trace Road in Jericho or virtually via Google Meet at https://meet.google.com/gzt-hjuw-iqg or call in at 1-541-797-0412 PIN: 146 461 745#.
Proposed school district budget: $55,274,112, a 5.4% increase over current budget.
School Board:
Incumbent Ethan Maurer is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Jericho
Meeting: The Selectboard will hold an informational meeting beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7 at Mount Mansfield Union High School, 211 Browns Trace.
Voting: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7 at Mount Mansfield Union High School, 211 Browns Trace.
Proposed town budget: $3,382,480, a 4.6% increase from the current budget.
Selectboard:
Incumbent Catherine McMains is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Items:
Should Jericho become a Food Hub for its citizens, with the goal of increasing food self-sufficiency via the production, manufacture and distribution of local food?
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District informational meeting: 6 p.m., Thursday, March 2, in person at Mount Mansfield Union High School at 211 Browns Trace Road in Jericho or virtually via Google Meet at https://meet.google.com/gzt-hjuw-iqg or call in at 1-541-797-0412 PIN: 146 461 745#.
Proposed school district budget: $55,274,112, a 5.4% increase over current budget.
School Board:
Incumbent Edye Graning is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Incumbent Stuart Morigeau is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Milton
Informational meeting: 6 p.m. Monday, March 6, Milton High School library, 17 Rebecca Lander Drive.
Voting: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, Milton Municipal Building, 43 Bombardier Road. Absentee ballots can be requested online at https://mvp.vermont.gov/; by calling the town clerk’s office at (802) 893-4111; by emailing the town clerk, Kristin Beers, at kbeers@miltonvt.gov; printing a request form from https://www.miltonvt.gov/255/Elections-Voting and returning it to the town clerk’s office; or in person at the town clerk’s office, 43 Bombardier Road, Milton.
Proposed town budget: $9,784,978, up 5.4% from the current budget.
Selectboard:
Incumbent Brenda Steady is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Incumbents Darren Adams and John M. FitzGerald, and challengers Leland Morgan and Richard Saunders are running for two one-year terms.
Items:
Voters will be asked whether to make the property of the Arrowhead Senior Center exempt from real-estate taxes for five years.
Milton Town School District informational meeting: 6 p.m., Monday, March 6 at Milton High School Library, 17 Rebecca Lander Drive and via Zoom: https://link.mtsd-vt.org/JointMeeting
Proposed school district budget: $34,644,806, a 5.2% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Should the Milton Town School District appropriate up to $1,014,852 of the District’s fund balance to the Capital Reserve and Maintenance Fund?
School Board:
Incumbent Jeremy Metcalf is running against Allison H. Duquette for a three-year term.
Appointed to fill a vacated term, Melinda Young is running against Nicholas Smith for a one-year term.
Richmond
Informational meeting: 6 p.m. Monday, March 6, Camel's Hump Middle School, 173 School St.
Voting: 7 a.m. 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, Camels Hump Middle School, 173 School St.
Proposed town budget: $4,530,571, a 3% increase from the current budget.
Selectboard:
Incumbent David Sander is running against Angela Cote for a three-year term.
Lisa Miller is running against Adam Wood for a two-year term.
Items:
Should the town issue up to $1.9 million in bonds to replace water lines along Tilden Avenue, portions of Cochran Road and portions of Bridge Street?
Should the town fund the Conservation Reserve Fund by adding 1 cent to the municipal tax rate?
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District informational meeting: 6 p.m., Thursday, March 2, in person at Mount Mansfield Union High School at 211 Browns Trace Rd. in Jericho or virtually via Google Meet at https://meet.google.com/gzt-hjuw-iqg or call in at 1-541-797-0412 PIN: 146 461 745#.
Proposed school district budget: $55,274,112, a 5.4% increase over current budget.
School Board:
Incumbent Tara J. Arneson is running unopposed for a three-year term.
St. George
Meeting/Voting: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, Little Red Schoolhouse, 35 Barber Road. (Meeting is held simultaneously with voting, which is done from the floor.)
Proposed town budget: $308,643, down 0.5% from the current budget
Selectboard:
The three-year seat now held by Selectboard Chair Jeff Pillsbury will be considered with nominations and a vote from the floor.
Items:
Authorizing the Selectboard to appoint a town clerk.
Authorizing the Selectboard to appoint a town treasurer.
Creating a conservation commission with members to be appointed by the Selectboard.
Authorizing the Selectboard to sell one or both of the remaining unsold lots in the town center subdivision.
Champlain Valley School District informational meeting: 5 p.m., Mon. March 6, Champlain Valley Union High School
Proposed school district budget: $96,119,804, a 7.5% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Shall the school district allocate $600,000 of its current fund balance as revenue for the 2023-2024 school year and allocate $1,377,414 of the fund balance to future budgets?
Shall the school district borrow up to $395,000 to purchase three school buses?
Shelburne
Meeting: The Selectboard will have an informational meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 6, at Shelburne Community School, 345 Harbor Road.
Voting: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7 at the Town Center Gym, 5430 Shelburne Road.
Proposed town budget: $10,624,271, a 4.65% increase from the current budget.
Selectboard:
Andrew Everett is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Incumbent Luce Hillman is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Items:
Raise $50,000 through taxes to buy land to preserve for natural resources and open space.
Finance up to $97,000 to buy mobile radios for the fire department.
Issue bonds of up to $1.15 million to complete the replacement of water meters.
Champlain Valley School District informational meeting: 5 p.m., Monday, March 6, Champlain Valley Union High School
Proposed school district budget: $96,119,804, a 7.5% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Shall the school district allocate $600,000 of its current fund balance as revenue for the 2023-2024 school year and allocate $1,377,414 of the fund balance to future budgets?
Shall the school district borrow up to $395,000 to purchase three school buses?
Proposed school district budget: $55,274,112, a 5.4% increase over current budget.
School Board:
David Connery is running unopposed for a three-year term.
https://meet.google.com/gzt-hjuw-iqg or call in at 1-541-797-0412
South Burlington
Meeting: South Burlington's informational meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 6-7 p.m. at Room 301 in South Burlington City Hall. You can dial in using your phone by calling 571-317-3122 and providing the access code 413-078-533. You can also attend virtually through the following link: https://meet.goto.com/SouthBurlingtonVT/townmeetingdayinformationalmeeting02-28-2023
Voting: An absentee ballot can be requested by visiting the state website mvp.vermont.gov, emailing dkinville@sburl.com, or by calling the City Clerk Office at 802-846-4105. In-person voting is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. , Tuesday, March 7, at the following locations:
District CHI-8: City Hall Senior Center (180 Market St.).
District CHI-9 and CHI-11 F.H. Tuttle Middle School (500 Dorset St.).
District CHI-10 Chamberlin School (262 White St.).
District CHI-12 Orchard School (2 Baldwin Ave).
If you're unsure which district you're in, a map is available online at:: https://cms6.revize.com/revize/southburlington/2022%20voter%20map.pdf
Proposed town budget: $10,624,271, a 7.9% increase from the current budget.
City Council:
Andrew Chalnick and James "Jimmy" Leas are running for a three year term.
Tyler Barnes, Lydia C. Diamond, and Paul Engels are running for a two-year term.
Items:
Will the city issue general obligation bonds of up to $33,833,000 to make improvements to the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility? These improvements include installing a clarifier at the Airport Parkway wastewater treatment facility and refurbishing or replacing four wastewater pump stations.
Will the city issue bonds of up to $15,086,430 to fund the following public infrastructure projects?
New paved pathways and an elevated boardwalk between Barrett Street, Market Street, and Garden Street.
Realignment of the intersection at Williston Road, White Street, and Midas Drive.
Improvements to the intersection of Hinesburg Road, Patchen Road, and Williston Road.
The installation of a shared-use path on the south side of Williston Road between Dorset Street and Midas Drive.
Building a walk-bike bridge over Interstate 89 at Exit 14.
South Burlington School District informational meeting: 6:30 p.m., Monday. March 6 in the auditorium at City Hall, 180 Market St., or virtually via Go To Meeting: https://meet.goto.com/SouthBurlingtonVT/citycouncilmeeting03-06-2023 , call by phone at 1-571-317-3122, access code: 645-719-013.
Proposed school district budget: $62,528,029, a 7.1.0% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Shall the district spend up to $14,550,000 to construct eight zero energy modular classrooms to address overpopulation at Rick Marcotte Central School and Orchard School and for maintenance on all five schools (including updating roofing, HVAC/plumbing, windows, bathrooms, parking lot and sidewalks, kitchens).
School Board:
Incumbent Travia Childs is running against Bryan Companion for a two-year term.
Incumbent Alex McHenry is running against Lisa Hickey for a three-year term.
Incumbent Laura A. Williams is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Underhill
Informational meeting: 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 7, at Brown's River Middle School.
Voting: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7 at Browns River Middle School. Absentee Ballots can be requested by calling the Town Clerk at 802-899-4434, ext. 1, or by visiting the state website https://mvp.vermont.gov/. All absentee ballots must be returned by 7pm on Tuesday, March 7.
Proposed town budget: $3,279,586, a six percent increase from the previous year.
Elections:
Incumbent Patricia Richards is running unopposed for a three-year term on the Selectboard.
Incumbent Sherri Morin is running unopposed for a three-year term as Town Clerk.
Items:
Will the town borrow up to $286,000 to replace its 1997 excavator with a new excavator?
Will the town borrow up to $45,000 to replace its 2005 trailer with a new trailer for mobilizing heavy equipment?
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District informational meeting: 6 p.m., Thursday, March 2, in person at Mount Mansfield Union High School at 211 Browns Trace Road in Jericho or virtually via Google Meet at https://meet.google.com/gzt-hjuw-iqg or call in at 1-541-797-0412 PIN: 146 461 745#.
Proposed school district budget: $55,274,112, a 5.4% increase over current budget.
School Board:
Incumbent Kevin Campbell is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Westford
Meeting: There will be an informational meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 2 on Zoom. Join by clicking this link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83759748471?pwd=MVFCY2xPR0V5SUc5bDIWdlQ4YnA5dz09. Password: 03vXnV. Meeting ID: 837 5974 8471. Residents can also join by dialing in on a phone at this number: 646-558-8656 and entering this password: 476452.
Voting: Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7 at Westford School, 146 Brookside Road, Westford
Proposed Town Budget: $2,158,830
Select board:
Incumbent Lee McClenny is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Items:
Installment dates for real estate and personal property taxes and the town budget.
Essex Westford School District has a separate vote on April 11.
Essex Westford School District informational meeting: April 10, details yet to be announced.
Proposed school district budget as of Feb. 6: $110,093,540, a 5.5% increase over current budget.
School Board: one three-year term position is expected to be available.
Williston
Meeting: The Selectboard will hold an informational meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, March 6, at Williston Central School, 195 Central School Drive.
Voting: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 7, the Armory at 7846 Williston Road, next to the town offices.
Proposed town budget: $13,148,554, a 6.31% increase from the current budget.
Selectboard:
Jeanne Jensen is running unopposed for a three-year term,
Incumbent Terry Macaig is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Ellie Beckett is running against Mike Isham for a one-year term.
Items:
Purchase a solar array on the roof of the public works facility using $125,000 of unspent money from the 2013 sale of bonds to construct the facility. The solar array is currently owned by a third party and the town has a purchase option this year. Purchasing the solar array would allow the town to retain the full amount of net metering credits produced by the array, reducing annual electricity costs.
Issue bonds or notes for the purchase of a new ambulance costing up to $280,000 rather than borrowing money for the purchase, as authorized at last year's town meeting. The current bond market may allow a lower interest rate than financing through a financial institution.
Champlain Valley School District informational meeting: 5 p.m., Monday, March 6, Champlain Valley Union High School.
Proposed school district budget: $96,119,804, a 7.5% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Shall the school district allocate $600,000 of its current fund balance as revenue for the 2023-2024 school year and allocate $1,377,414 of the fund balance to future budgets?
Shall the school district borrow up to $395,000 to purchase three school buses?
School Board:
Erin Henderson is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Winooski
Meeting: Informational meetings about Winooski’s city and school budgets:
Zoom presentation of city and school budgets: 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, click here to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84364849328 or attend by phone: 646-558-8656.
In-person presentation of city and school budgets: 6 p.m. on Monday, March 6 at Winooski School District Performing Arts Center.
Voting: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 7, at the Winooski Senior Center, 123 Barlow St.
Proposed Town Budget: $9,242,032.87, a 5.09% tax rate increase from last year.
City Council:
Charles Judge and incumbent Bryn Oakleaf are running for the two seats with two-year terms.
Items:
An item that, if passed, would give City Council authority to “apply for and accept funds from sources other than property taxation, and to expend the same for the benefit of the City in addition to sums for which budget appropriation has been made.”
A just-cause eviction charter change. If passed by voters, the Legislature and the governor, it would prevent tenants from being forced out of homes from non-renewal of leases for no stated reason or from extreme rent increases.
Proposed school district budget: $25,444,099, a 19.5% increase over current budget.
Winooski School District informational meeting in conjunction with the city meeting will be held on multiple occasions.
Virtual presentation: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22, via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84364849328, Webinar ID 843 6484 9328, Call-in at 1-646-558-8656.
Joint City and School Budget Presentation: 6 p.m., Monday, March 6, Winooski School District Performing Arts Center at 60 Normand St.
Proposed school district budget: $25,444,099, a 19.5% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Shall the district accept and expend $4,136,229 of federal funds − or whatever amount is received − to support special education and compensatory education programs.
School Board:
Incumbent Allison Burlock is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Jordan Matte and Robert Millar are running for a two-year term.
Matthew Francis is running unopposed for a three-year term as school district treasurer.
Burlington School District
Burlington School District proposed budget: $104,144,584, 6.0% increase over current budget.
School Board:
North District: Incumbent Kendra Sowers is running unopposed for a two-year term.
South District: Incumbent Jeff Wick is running unopposed for a two-year term.
East District: Gary Golden is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Central District: Incumbent Jean Waltz is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Champlain Valley School District
Champlain Valley School District informational meeting: 5 p.m., Monday, March 6, Champlain Valley Union High School
Proposed school district budget: $96,119,804, a 7.5% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Shall the school district allocate $600,000 of its current fund balance as revenue for the 2023-2024 school year and allocate $1,377,414 of the fund balance to future budgets?
Shall the school district borrow up to $395,000 to purchase three school buses?
Colchester School District
Colchester School District proposed budget: $52,401,407, a 7.9% increase over current budget.
School Board:
Incumbent Ben Yousey-Hindes is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Incumbent Lindsey A. Cox is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District informational meeting: 6 p.m., Thursday, March 2, in person at Mount Mansfield Union High School at 211 Browns Trace Road in Jericho or virtually via Google Meet at https://meet.google.com/gzt-hjuw-iqg or call in at 1-541-797-0412 PIN: 146 461 745#.
Proposed school district budget: $55,274,112, a 5.4% increase over current budget.
Milton School District
Milton Town School District informational meeting: 6 p.m., Monday, March 6 at Milton High School Library, 17 Rebecca Lander Dr. and via Zoom: https://link.mtsd-vt.org/JointMeeting
Proposed school district budget: $34,644,806, a 5.2% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Should the Milton Town School District appropriate up to $1,014,852 of the District’s fund balance to the Capital Reserve and Maintenance Fund?
School Board:
Incumbent Jeremy Metcalf is running against Allison H. Duquette for a three-year term.
Appointed to fill a vacated term, Melinda Young is running against Nicholas Smith for a one-year term.
South Burlington School District
South Burlington School District informational meeting: 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 6 in the auditorium at City Hall, 180 Market St., or virtually via Go To Meeting: https://meet.goto.com/SouthBurlingtonVT/citycouncilmeeting03-06-2023 , call by phone at 1-571-317-3122, access code: 645-719-013.
Proposed school district budget: $62,528,029, a 7.1% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Shall the district spend up to $14,550,000 to construct eight zero energy modular classrooms to address overpopulation at Rick Marcotte Central School and Orchard School and for maintenance on all five schools (including updating roofing, HVAC/plumbing, windows, bathrooms, parking lot and sidewalks, kitchens).
School Board:
Incumbent Travia Childs is running against Bryan Companion for a two-year term.
Incumbent Alex McHenry is running against Lisa Hickey for a three-year term.
Incumbent Laura A. Williams is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Winooski School District
Proposed school district budget: $25,444,099, a 19.5% increase over current budget.
School district article items:
Shall the district accept and expend $4,136,229 of federal funds − or whatever amount is received − to support special education and compensatory education programs.
School Board:
Incumbent Allison Burlock is running unopposed for a three-year term.
Jordan Matte and Robert Millar are running for a two-year term.
Matthew Francis is running unopposed for a three-year term as school district treasurer.
Winooski School District informational meeting in conjunction with the city meeting will be held on multiple occasions.
Virtual presentation: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22, via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84364849328, Webinar ID 843 6484 9328, Call-in at 1-646-558-8656.
Joint City and School Budget Presentation: 6 p.m., Monday, March 6, Winooski School District Performing Arts Center at 60 Normand St.
Proposed school district budget: $25,444,099, a 19.5% increase over current budget.
Contact Burlington Free Press staff at metro@burlingtonfreepress.com
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Town Meeting Day 2023: What to know in Chittenden County
