Many school districts across Vermont have turned down their school budgets, due to a steep rise in education property taxes.In South Burlington, they’ve failed to pass their budget proposals twice.On Town Meeting Day, 58% of voters rejected a $71 million budget proposal, that would have seen a 23.5% property tax increase.The school board revised the budget reducing it by $1.6 million.But in a second vote last week, the $69.5 million budget failed by just 150 votes.Wednesday evening, there was a special meeting held for the school board, voters, and students to share their thoughts on how to best approach the budget proposal for a third time.”It’s been really helpful to have the robust engagement. This is what we need to pass the budget,” said Chelsea Tillinghast, South Burlington School Board Chair.At the beginning of the meeting, the school district announced they received a $750,000 surplus from their fiscal year 2023 audit.”This money can be applied as revenue to reduce the tax rate,” said Violet Nicholas, South Burlington School District Superintendent.South Burlington School District Clerk Tim Warren said he’s still in favor of making more cuts.”I think we’re starting to get to the point that we’re seeing a tax rate that is acceptable for the most part. I still think we have a ways to go,” said Warren.Warren emphasized that it’s important to avoid cutting teachers and school programs though.Others shared where they think those cuts could come from.”We have administrators giving people messages saying ‘these are tough times’. To my knowledge and I don’t know everything, I haven’t heard any cuts at the top,” said a 5th-grade teacher in the South Burlington School District.The majority of the people at the meeting believe they should retry the most recent $69.5 million budget proposal again since it failed by only a slim margin.They believe better communication with the community on why the budget is laid out the way it is would get them over the edge.”The budget barely failed- just 150 votes. Please increase voter literacy efforts. For example, making brief reels or text chains to encourage voting and dispel myths,” said a South Burlington High School parent.There’s no set date on when the school board will vote for a third time.If there’s no budget by July 1, they will have to use this year’s budget for 2025.South Burlington is not the only school district in need of re-voting.Others include Champlain Valley, Essex-Westford, Milton, and Mount Mansfield.
Many school districts across Vermont have turned down their school budgets, due to a steep rise in education property taxes.
In South Burlington, they’ve failed to pass their budget proposals twice.
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On Town Meeting Day, 58% of voters rejected a $71 million budget proposal, that would have seen a 23.5% property tax increase.
The school board revised the budget reducing it by $1.6 million.
But in a second vote last week, the $69.5 million budget failed by just 150 votes.
Wednesday evening, there was a special meeting held for the school board, voters, and students to share their thoughts on how to best approach the budget proposal for a third time.
“It’s been really helpful to have the robust engagement. This is what we need to pass the budget,” said Chelsea Tillinghast, South Burlington School Board Chair.
At the beginning of the meeting, the school district announced they received a $750,000 surplus from their fiscal year 2023 audit.
“This money can be applied as revenue to reduce the tax rate,” said Violet Nicholas, South Burlington School District Superintendent.
South Burlington School District Clerk Tim Warren said he’s still in favor of making more cuts.
“I think we’re starting to get to the point that we’re seeing a tax rate that is acceptable for the most part. I still think we have a ways to go,” said Warren.
Warren emphasized that it’s important to avoid cutting teachers and school programs though.
Others shared where they think those cuts could come from.
“We have administrators giving people messages saying ‘these are tough times’. To my knowledge and I don’t know everything, I haven’t heard any cuts at the top,” said a 5th-grade teacher in the South Burlington School District.
The majority of the people at the meeting believe they should retry the most recent $69.5 million budget proposal again since it failed by only a slim margin.
They believe better communication with the community on why the budget is laid out the way it is would get them over the edge.
“The budget barely failed- just 150 votes. Please increase voter literacy efforts. For example, making brief [Instagram] reels or text chains to encourage voting and dispel myths,” said a South Burlington High School parent.
There’s no set date on when the school board will vote for a third time.
If there’s no budget by July 1, they will have to use this year’s budget for 2025.
South Burlington is not the only school district in need of re-voting.
Others include Champlain Valley, Essex-Westford, Milton, and Mount Mansfield.
