Two school districts scheduled to revote tomorrow, and another Super Tuesday looms April 30
by Guy Page
Whoops!
VDC has been reporting that Alburgh school district voted to approve a revised version of the school budget rejected at Town Meeting. That’s wrong! Vermont’s most north-westerly town rejected its school budget on March 5 and has not voted since. Alburghers will vote on a second budget on May 7.
Apologies to our readers! Not sure how that happened, but we’re glad to set the record straight.
The Alburgh Correction means that the 2024 Property Tax Revolt is stronger than VDC indicated last week, when our tally showed three towns had approved revised school budgets after the unprecedented rejection of 30 school budgets on March 5, Town Meeting Day. In fact, moving Alburgh back into the “scheduled revote” category where it belongs reduces the number of approved revised school budgets to two: affluent Chittenden County bedroom Champlain Valley Union School District, and the Paine Mountain School District covering Northfield and Williamstown.
The slew of No votes is a result of a proposed 20% statewide property tax to pay for public education. The Legislature responded to last Tuesday’s rejection of six of eight revised school budgets by introducing a school funding bill, H.877, that would reduce most property taxes from about 20% to 15%, offsetting the lost revenue with the creation of a ‘Cloud Tax’ on internet services and another new tax on short-term rentals. The bill, slated for a first look by the full House tomorrow, does not offer or recommend any 2024-25 education spending cuts.
Tomorrow, school voters in two southeastern Vermont school districts representing six towns will vote again on revised budgets. The towns are Ludlow, Mt. Holly, Chester, Baltimore, Andover, and Cavendish.
Next Tuesday, April 30, will be another Day of Reckoning for 2024-25 school budgets, with 11 school districts voting on revised versions of the budgets that failed March 5. School districts without approved school budgets by July 1 will be allowed to borrow up to 87% of current funding while seeking voters approval.
Below is a list of Yes/No/Scheduled to Revote school districts that voted down school budgets at Town Meeting.
| School Districts voting No on School Budgets at Town Meeting | Revote (Yes, No, or scheduled date) | Supervisory Union |
| Alburgh | May 7 | Grand Isle SU |
| Fairfax | No | Franklin West SU |
| Georgia | No | Franklin West SU |
| Holland | April 30 | North Country SU |
| Milton | No | Milton SD |
| Rutland Town | April 30 | Greater Rutland County SU |
| St. Johnsbury | No | St. Johnsbury SD |
| South Burlington | No | South Burlington SD |
| South Hero | May 14 | Grand Isle SU |
| Springfield | No | Springfield SD |
| Barstow UUSD (Chittenden, Mendon) | April 30 | Rutland Northeast SU |
| Otter Valley UUSD (Brandon, others) | April 30 | Rutland Northeast SU |
| Addison Northwest USD (Vergennes, others) | April 30 | Addison Northwest SD |
| Champlain Valley USD (Williston, Shelburne, others) | Yes | Champlain Valley SD |
| Lamoille North MUSD A (Cambridge, Johnson, others) | No | Lamoille North SU |
| Harwood UUSD (Waitsfield, Duxbury others) | April 30 | Harwood UUSD |
| Mt. Abraham USD (Bristol, others) | No | Mt. Abraham USD |
| Kingdom East USD (Lyndonville, Burke, others) | No | Kingdom East SD |
| Paine Mountain (Northfield/Williamstown) SD | Yes | Central Vermont SU |
| Montpelier Roxbury School District | April 30 | Montpelier Roxbury SD |
| Green Mountain USD (Andover, Chester, others) | April 23 | Two Rivers SU |
| Ludlow – Mt. Holly UUSD | April 23 | Two Rivers SU |
| Champlain Islands UUSD (Most Grand Isle towns) | April 30 | Grand Isle SU |
| Slate Valley UUSD (Castleton, Fair Haven, Poultney) | No | Slate Valley UUSD |
| Enosburgh-Richford UUSD | April 30 | Franklin Northeast SU |
| Washington Central USD (Berlin, Middlesex, others) | May 7 | |
| Missisquoi Valley School Distrist | April 30 | Missisquoi Valley SD |
| Elmore-Morristown UUSD | No | Lamoille South SU |
| Barre UUSD | May 14 | Barre UUSD |
| Northern Mountain Valley UUSD (Richford, others) | April 30 | Franklin Northeast SU |
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Categories: Education
I have heard that Caledonia Cooperative School District has a warned re-vote for May 7.
Please add Caledonia Central Supervisory Union, Guy and Tim. May 7 is the date of the revote.
It’s time for a change in school funding. They need a good house cleaning. The goose that used tolay their golden eggs is crappin’ something else these days. Everybody from the VNEA, AOE, to the custodians, and cafeteria staff need to be examined, and all staffing reconsidered to bring spending back to Earth.
I think this is some of the best news I’ve heard in a long time. Hoping this is akin to a small crack in a huge damn that’s getting ready to explode. Can’t wait to put my next X on the NO square !!