Legislators ask recalcitrant voters to pass school budgets
By Guy Page
Voters in the Washington County towns of Marshfield and Plainfield who voted Yes on their school budget at Town Meeting and then had a decisive change of heart will vote for a third time Tuesday, June 4.
Also, legislative leaders are publicly pleading with Addison/Rutland school voters to not blame their local school boards for the property tax increases that have led to repeated rejection of budgets at the polls.
Two key legislators, both of whom voted for the current school funding formula that contributed to double-digit property tax hikes deplored by many voters statewide, say the local school boards are not to blame.
“These districts can’t responsibly cut more. It is time to approve their budgets so school leaders can plan for the next school year and provide the vital programs and services that so many students need,” Rep. Peter Conlon (D-Cornwall, Chair of House Education Committee) and Sen. Ruth Hardy (D-Addison, Chair of Government Operations Committee) said in an op-ed [“School boards have done their jobs, now pass budget,” May 28 Addison Independent.]
Hardy is facing a primary challenge in the Democratic primary for the two Addison County state senate seats. Rep. Caleb Elder of Starksboro has announced he will run against incumbents Hardy and Chris Bray.
Conlon and Hardy blamed the big property tax increase on the state school funding formula, ”inflation, a 16% hike in health insurance costs, and a dramatic increase in student mental health and remedial education needs,” and decline in federal funding. They hope the third and even fourth time will be the charm in these three school districts:
- Slate Valley Unified School District (Benson Village School, Castleton Elementary, Fair Haven Grade School, Fair Haven Union Memorial High School, Orwell Village School). Budget up for fourth vote today, Thursday May 30, is identical to the budget rejected the third time.
- Mount Abraham Union School District (Bristol, Monkton) – budget rejected twice (Town meeting, April 16). Vote set for Tuesday, June 11.
- Otter Valley Union Unified School District (Brandon, Goshen, Leicester, Pittsford, Sudbury and Whiting). Vote set for June 11.
The op-ed was published as about 20 school districts across Vermont still have not approved school budgets. School districts without approved budgets by July 1 may borrow 87% of current operating expenses, month by month, until a budget is approved. VDC will provide an update on the ongoing Property Tax revolt on VDC-TV’s Friday at Four.
Part of that news coverage will be the curious situation in Plainfield/Marshfield, where the “Yes” vote for the Twinfield school district was close enough at Town Meeting to permit a revote. The revote saw the school budget rejected. Next step will be a third vote 7 AM – 7 PM Tuesday, June 4 at the Plainfield Town Clerk’s Office.
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