WITH KEY PRIORITIES, THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND THE WORK WILL CONTINUE. TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY... VOTERS IN SOUTH BURLINGTON WILL BE ASKED TO HEAD áBACK TO THE POLLS... FOR A ááTHIRD ATTEMPT... TO PASS NEXT YEAR'S SCHOOL BUDGET. AFTER TWO REVISIONS... THE SCHOOL BOARD IS NOW PROPOSING A 68 MILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PLAN. THAT'S A 1 MILLION DOLLAR CUT FROM THE SECOND PROPOSAL. AND A áá3 MILLION DOLLAR CUT FROM THE ORIGINAL PLAN... THAT FAILED ON TOWN MEETING DAY. OVERALL, THE NEWEST BUDGET WOULD STILL RAISE PROPERTY TAXES ABOUT 9 AND A HALF PERCENT. BUT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION... COMPARED TO THE MORE THAN 14 PERCENT INCREASE... IN THE PLAN THAT FAILED EARLIER THIS MONTH. AND A áá23 PERCE
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South Burlington sets date for third school budget vote
Polls open May 7 in South Burlington for a third attempt to pass a school budget for the next fiscal year.
Voters in South Burlington are being called back to the polls on May 7 for a third attempt to pass a school budget for the next fiscal year. The announcement comes after district residents rejected two previous proposals, mainly over steep tax increases brought on by changes to the state funding formula. At a meeting on April 17, the school board voted to adopt a revised budget totaling $68,082,002. The board cut out more than a million dollars from its last revised budget of $69,530,000. The new proposal is also a $3 million decrease from the original budget proposal, which was shot down on Town Meeting Day in March. Property tax increases have been one of the biggest hurdles for school districts across Vermont that are tasked with convincing voters to approve double-digit rate hikes in some cases while balancing rising costs of health care, wages, and building improvements for local schools. The revised budget in South Burlington would still raise property taxes about 9.55% but that number is significantly lower than the 23.5% increase proposed in March. In an effort to solve the staggering tax increase, Republican lawmakers have proposed changes to the current education funding policy that would give more power to the state rather than the school districts. Democrats are pushing for a study on education funding instead, saying a drastic policy change so quickly at the end of the session wouldn't be smart. Many school district budgets have failed, leading to multiple attempts to re-vote. Some have already failed two rounds of voting. The third vote in South Burlington will be held on May 7. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. —
Voters in South Burlington are being called back to the polls on May 7 for a third attempt to pass a school budget for the next fiscal year.
The announcement comes after district residents rejected two previous proposals, mainly over steep tax increases brought on by changes to the state funding formula.
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At a meeting on April 17, the school board voted to adopt a revised budget totaling $68,082,002. The board cut out more than a million dollars from its last revised budget of $69,530,000.
The new proposal is also a $3 million decrease from the original budget proposal, which was shot down on Town Meeting Day in March.
Property tax increases have been one of the biggest hurdles for school districts across Vermont that are tasked with convincing voters to approve double-digit rate hikes in some cases while balancing rising costs of health care, wages, and building improvements for local schools.
The revised budget in South Burlington would still raise property taxes about 9.55% but that number is significantly lower than the 23.5% increase proposed in March.
In an effort to solve the staggering tax increase, Republican lawmakers have proposed changes to the current education funding policy that would give more power to the state rather than the school districts.
Democrats are pushing for a study on education funding instead, saying a drastic policy change so quickly at the end of the session wouldn't be smart.
Many school district budgets have failed, leading to multiple attempts to re-vote. Some have already failed two rounds of voting.
The third vote in South Burlington will be held on May 7. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
