Special Report 3/5/24: Education Tax/Informational Town Meeting

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3/5/24 Special report

1.Education Taxes

2. Town Meeting

1. Education Taxes: To understand how the education tax is configured, watch the GMUSD General Information Meeting that was held on Feb. 29. The Information portion begins around 21:00 minutes.

Act 127 goes into effect for the first time this fiscal year. The intent is to level the playing field by giving more weight, and financial support,  to students who are low income, live rurally or English is their  second language

While the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) budget has increased by 10% this year, the basic level of taxes will not change because of the weighted pupil cost. This is due to the high number of students in the GMUSD on IEPs (Individual Education Plan), and their need for specialized education. In short, the GMUSD benefits from Act 127 this year.

As noted in Friday’s Cavendish Update, the issue for the education tax is the Common Level of Appraisal (CLA):  According to the Education Tax Calculator CLA is a method of ensuring that each town is paying its fair share of education property tax to the state’s Education Fund even if its grand list is not at 100% of fair market value. The CLA doesn’t change property values, only the education tax rate in a town. Note that education accounts for almost 70% of property taxes.

The education tax is based on how much houses sold for in Cavendish for the last three years. Cavendish’s CLA for this year is 72.55%, which means that Cavendish homes are generally listed for 72.55% of their fair market value, on average. Please note that the figure given in Friday’s Update of 82% was from the prior year.

The CLA will increase Cavendish taxes $212.80 per $100,000 of assessed property. Note that tax rates are set in June.

2. TOWN INFORMATIONAL MEETING: Since all articles will be voted on by Australian Ballot on Tuesday, March 5, this was an informational meeting that lasted for about an hour and a half. In addition to the Select Board members and town staff, there were approximately 38 people in attendance and 17 on Zoom.

Okemo Valley TV has posted a video of last night’s meeting, which is available at their website. Below is a brief summary of the meeting and for more details, it is recommended to watch the meeting. 

• Ambulance Service (Article 3 Town Budget): Wendy Regier voiced concern that Ludlow Ambulance will only transport to Springfield Hospital, and not to Mt. Ascutney Hospital, where she had wanted to be taken last year. She noted the budget of $78,000 for ambulance service and wondered what can be done to change this practice.  Wendy is researching this topic and has asked that anyone interested in working with her should contact her directly or via the town office.

• Gravel and Roads (Article 3, Town Budget): As we’re in the midst of mud season, questions about enough gravel and when will roads be repaved are of concern to many. Town Manager, Rick Chambers, felt that sufficient gravel was available so that the town crew could be a lot more proactive and start getting the roads in better shape. With more money for paving, the town can begin to tackle more areas. How much and how far will depend on what the town roads need. He noted that this was the beginning and it would take years, and more money, to complete the paving projects.

• Cannabis (Article 4): Concerned was raised about cannabis retailers and what role the town would have if a store was set up. Chambers noted that all aspects of retail cannabis is regulated by the state. Before a license can be obtained, it must have the approval of the town. It was noted that both Ludlow and Chester had hearings on this topic before going to a vote and it would have been helpful for Cavendish to have done the same.

• Australian Ballot (Article 5 & 6): Many believed that if all voting was to be done by Australian Ballot, Town Meeting would be killed, and once gone, would be difficult to reinstate. The pros and cons centered around whether the discussion, changes made as a result and in person voting was a more effective way to vote or if it was more democratic by Australian Ballot as more people take part in the voting process. A suggestion was made to move Town Meeting Day to Saturday where many more could attend. When asked for a show of hands of how many people favored such a move, almost everyone in the room raised their hand. Note that those on Zoom, while having the ability to ask questions, are unable to vote. The tradition of Vermont Town Meeting dates back to 1762, 15 years before Vermont became a state.

• Tax Exemption: Black River Health Center (Article 7): The Black River Health Center (BRHC) was started in 1957, when Kenwood Mills agreed to donate a building to create a health center in order to attract a doctor. According to Dr. Eugene Bont, who ran the facility until 1988 when he and his wife, Phyllis Bont, a nurse practitioner, left for Albany Medical Center,  it was stipulated by Kenwood that in the event the health center cease to exist, the building should be turned over to the town. Since the Bonts left, BRHC has served many purposes but hasn’t been successful in serving the intended purpose of being a primary care facility. That function is now served by the Ludlow Health Center, which is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Outside of a clinical social worker, there are 3 other people working there but no specifics were given about what they do. Mention was made that they served the community but very limited details were provided. George Timko, Select Board member and head of the BRHC said that COVID had created a problem for them but they hoped things would start improving.

While the amount of taxpayers would have to pay is minimal for this exemption, whether the BRHC is a health center is a question to be considered.  Could the building better serve the community as a place to develop affordable housing, which the town is in need of?

• Tax Exemption: Fletcher Farm Foundation (Article 8): Tim Calabrese provided a list of ways the Foundation, started in 1933, supports the town: Scholarships; funds for the Cavendish Fletcher Library; reduced rent for Stepping Stones Preschool, TRSU offices and the Arts & Crafts School: reduced tuition to attend the Arts & Crafts School; Community Garden; Dog Park; Meeting space; and location of the bi annual Black River Good Neighbors Services Rummage Sale. This summer they will begin construction of 5 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails.

The tax exemption for both BRHC and Fletcher Farm is $16,061 (page 25 of the Town Report), with approximately $12,000 assigned to Fletcher Farm.

• Tax Exemption: Fire Departments (Articles 8 & 9) There was a brief discussion that fire departments are already tax exempt.