Stamford Voters Slice Town and School Budgets
 Outgoing Select Board member Helen Fields, right, explains some of the budgeting decisions as board members Sheila Lawrence and Eunice Rice listen. At left is moderator William Levine. |
Voters packed into the Stamford School called for a drastic 25 percent reduction in the coming school budget, saying $1.6 million for 68 children was "absolutely insane." After revenues, the total amount to raise and appropriate was $1.588 million.
After nearly an hour of debate, the voters decided overwhelmingly by paper ballot to cut the school budget at 4.5 percent, as recommended by the Finance Committee.
"If this continues it will be unsustainable," said Daniel Potvin earlier in the evening, saying property taxes would double within the next decade if budgets continued to balloon.
With total property taxes set to rise 11 percent the coming year, the Finance Committee had recommended cutting back the town budget by 20 percent, or $94,000. Voters, however, concerned that cutting that much would endanger an administrative assistant position that was bringing in thousands in grant funds, held to 15 percent to encourage the Select Board to maintain the part-time post.
The meeting was a larger echo of 2009, when voters cut 5 percent out of the town budget. But with an estimated tax rate in fiscal 2010 at $2.01 per $100 evaluation — up from $1.61 in 2008 — voters rebelled.
The tax rate drops a penny for about every $8,000, which would put the tax roughly at $1.85, or about $3,700 for a $200,000 home.
One woman said the town needed new residents but the spiraling property taxes would dissuade people from moving in.
Declining population is a problem towns across the state are grappling with along with rising taxes, said state Sen. Robert M. Hartwell, D-Bennington County, who stopped by the meeting with state Rep. Robert Moran, D-Wardsboro.
  David Whitcomb of Lesure Road advocated for keeping the roads in good condition. Right, Sen. Robert Hartwell said the state could be facing a population crisis. Rep. John Moran, left, said lawmakers were going to be more aware of how legislation would affect property taxes. |
"This is a very, very serious problem," Hartwell continued. "It will dwarf everything else in Vermont's future."
Lawmakers are hoping to stem the rising tide through school consolidation and a bill that passed the House that required taxes be weighed along with spending.
"Anytime we vote, if it affects property taxes, we have to know what we're voting on," said Moran.
Voters closely questioned nearly every spending item on the 19-article town warrant, finally approving borrowing $200,000 toward paving town roads over the next few years after nearly a half-hour of debate.
"I really think this is a smart move," said Road Commissioner David Tatro. "If we put it off, we'll have to do them all and that will be an economic disaster. ... What we do put off today will have to be done tomorrow."
The Select Board had looked at using nearly $75,000 in leftover general revenues and some $68,000 in state flood grants to balance a $34,830 highway deficit and toward resurfacing on East, Lincoln, Henry Hill, Jepson, Clough and Robillard roads, and Stebbins Lane and Brookside Drive.
Voters OK'd the transfer from general funds to fill the deficit and any leftovers to the paving project; the balance will be borrowed.
All other articles passed with the exception of a $400 request from BROC Community Action in Southwestern Vermont. Every money article received at least one no vote.
An initial attempt to cut the town budget by 10 percent was defeated 66-65, leaving the amendment for a 15 percent cut that passed easily.
The school district part of the meeting was equally argumentative, as voters spent an hour dissecting the school's line items. The school tax rate rose 25 percent in 2009 and was expected to jump nearly 15 percent the coming year.
School directors objected that the numbers were deceiving — some $200,000 was being spent on high school tuition and other mandated expenses, such as more than $200,000 in costs to the supervisory union and special education.
"What do we get out of the WSSU other than frustration?" asked Ken Sullivan-Bol, to wide agreement.
Sullivan-Bol said the town should consider designating a single high school and vocational school as a way to control costs (students now choose where to go). Others suggested closing the school entirely.
 School Directors Cynthia Lamore and Janice Farinon lean in to hear a question. |
An attempt to restore a 15 percent cut to the budget — "We need to send a message," said Mark Lawrence — was quickly cut off and voters decided whether to cut 4.5 percent or reject the budget all together by paper ballot.
The reduced budget passed 65-38. The school meeting wrapped up shortly before 11:30 with the approval of funding for the hot lunch program and $10,600 toward the first of five annual payments on the school's new heating system.
Election results:
The town has two new Select Board members with the election of LauraLee Smith to a three-year term with 160 votes and Thomas Houghtaling to a two-year term with 153. The two replace Helen Fields and William Rivard, who both declined to stand for re-election. Returned to the board for a one-year term was Eunice Rice, with 194 votes. Kenneth Sullivan-Bol received 62 write-in votes for the two-year term.
Newly elected as school director is James J. Sarkis Jr. for three years with 148 and Duncan Honig for one year remaining on a two-year term with 169; re-elected was Janice Farinon for two years with 103. Former school director Steve Grant launched a last-minute write-in campaign, nabbing 96 votes for the two-year spot, 14 votes for three years, and nine for one.
Longtime Moderator William Levine won another one-year term as town moderator with 143 votes and as school moderator with 105.
Also elected or re-elected were Daniel Trudeau as lister, three years; Sally Bohl, collector of delinquent taxes, one year; Sheila Pecor, cemetery commissioner, five years; Patricia M. Burton, library trustee, five years, and Barbara Goldstein, library trustee, one year.
There were a number of write-in votes for each position, mostly single. The auditors for two and for one year, grand juror and town agent remain vacant despite a handful of write-ins. A minimum of six votes is required to win a seat.
Voter turnout was good with 230, or 38 percent, of the town's 602 registered voters casting ballots.
Complete results are available on the town Web site.
