The Citizen - 10-26-23

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Bears everywhere

Postseason play

Population hits 5-year high in Vermont

CVU teams eye Division I championships

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October 26, 2023

Hinesburg questions bus service contribution

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Weekly news coverage for Charlotte and Hinesburg

thecitizenvt.com

Charlotte Town Meeting Day back in person

Sun shower

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Hinesburg is probing whether to back out of its membership with the Green Mountain Transit Authority, with several selectboard members questioning whether the financial arrangement is fair for the town. Any decision on the matter would be months away. The town will likely not dedicate any time to the issue until after its fiscal year 2025 budget has been finalized. But it highlights growing concerns around the town’s arrangement with the transit authority as Hinesburg faces a tight budget and an expected tax increase of more than 7 percent next year. “I am all for public transportation,” selectboard member Mike Loner said. “But I’m also very worried that we’re using Hinesburg taxpayers’ dollars for a benefit that is very limited to our use.” Hinesburg this fiscal year paid $51,000 to the transit authority, a 4 percent increase over the prior year, according to Todd Odit, Hinesburg’s town manager. Three years ago, in 2021, the town paid $45,000. Green Mountain Transit has

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

A point of contention during Charlotte’s last budget season has been put to rest as the selectboard confirmed Monday night that Town Meeting Day will be back in person this year — the first time the town will gather all together for its annual meeting since 2020. “We don’t want to do Australian ballot?” joked board member Lewis Mudge, referencing the amount of backlash the selectboard received last year for keeping the ballot vote instead of an in-person event. To celebrate the revival of the tradition, selectboard chair Jim Faulkner said he hopes to have the event be more of a community event, and “something more than just your bland Town Meeting Day,” he said. Since Charlotte voters approved moving the annual vote to Saturday in 2021, this year’s town meeting will be held on March 2 to limit costs for security that would PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

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Fall leaves hang on at Shelburne Farms, creating a canopy of color in the forest.

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