Brewery expands in Williston...
ECRWSS PRSRT STD US Postage
PAID
See pg. 8
Permit #15 Williston,VT 05495 POSTAL CUSTOMER
JANUARY 23, 2020
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
Proposed school budget carries 5 percent tax increase The Champlain Valley School Board will send an $82.4 million budget proposal to voters on Town Meeting Day March 3 after approving the proposal Tuesday. The budget will be considered by voters in each of the Champlain Valley School District’s member towns: Williston, Hinesburg, St. George, Charlotte and Shelburne. It carries a spending increase of $3.6 million compared to the current fiscal year (4.4 percent), and will have a different property tax impact in each of the member towns based on their respective common level of appraisals — a statewide formula that attempts to equalize
municipal contributions to the state Education Fund. In Williston, the budget increase would result in a tax rate increase of about 5 percent to $1.60 for every $100 of assessed property value, according to school district administrators’ estimates. For the owner of a $300,000 home, for example, the increase would amount to an additional $216 on their annual property tax bill. The budget includes new staffing in early literacy support, essential arts, guidance and high school administration. It increases spending per pupil to roughly $16,500, an
WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
Drive time
increase of 3.2 percent over the current year. In addition to the budget, the board also approved two ballot questions asking for voter approval to borrow funds for school buses and a variety of school upgrades. In one question, the board seeks to borrow $266,000 to buy three school buses. In another, it requests borrowing of $6 million to cover security upgrades at Allen Brook School and building repairs at CVU, Hinesburg Community, Shelburne Community and Charlotte Central schools. — Jason Starr
Town budget proposal finalized
PRESENTING
SPONSOR
The Williston Selectboard on Tuesday approved an $11.6 million budget proposal to be placed on the Town Meeting Day ballot for voter consideration March 3. T he proposal re prese nt s a $162,225 spending increase over the current year, an increase of about 1.4 percent. The increase would raise property taxes by about a half-cent for every $100 of assessed value, costing the owner of a $300,000 home, for example,
an additional $15 on their annual property tax bill. Wages and benef its are the biggest expense area, and they are slated to increase roughly $244,000. That includes the addition of a full-time recreation coordinator in the Recreation and Parks Department, a part-time position at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library and increasing staff hours at the Williston Community Justice Center (see related story, page 3).
Offsetting the staff increases is a decrease of about $140,000 in debt service as the town completes the payoff of an ambulance and fire engine. Town administrators are also budgeting for a $170,000 increase in revenue from the town’s 1 percent sales, meals and rooms tax as retail sales remain strong and a new hotel at Finney Crossing opens its doors. — Jason Starr
Observer photo by Al Frey
CVU's Tyler Morehouse drives to the rack during the 'Hawk's game vs. Burr
ALL INDOORS! DOUBLETREE BY HILTON, SOUTH BURLINGTON
Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020
TWO SESSIONS: 12 - 4 p.m. & 6 - 10 p.m.
Beer, Cider, Wine, Spirits • Music • Games Food Truck Fare • Game Lounge Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Jct., VT
www.winterbrewfestvt.com