A special meeting of the Moretown Select Board is scheduled for tonight, Thursday, June 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall to discuss the unanticipated expenditures.
The three separate articles addressed unanticipated expenditures that exceed the voters' Town Meeting approved budget. Australian ballot votes are required for all articles that request funding in excess of $5,000.
LEGAL SPENDING
Article 1, asking for increased legal spending to fight Rich Rivers' proposed quarry, was voted down, 144-89. Article 2, asking voters for additional funds for an audit of the town books, was voted down, 130-103. Article 3, asking for additional funds for the town garage project, was defeated, 148-85. At Town Meeting in March, 417 voters cast Australian ballots.
Select board member David Van Deusen addressed the failed articles in a townwide newsletter:
"The select board will now be faced with the very difficult task of finding about $50,000 from within said budget to pay for necessary expenses. I have a few ideas of where we can tighten our belt (as I'm sure other select board members do too). However, this process of cutting back will be a tough task."
QUARRY LITIGATION
Article 1 reads, "Shall the voters of the town of Moretown approve the expenditure of a sum of money not to exceed $8,200 to pay invoices relating to the quarry litigation, in lieu of paying the expenditure by taking from other line items in the existing town budget that was approved by the voters on March 3, 2009?"
A yes vote would have allowed the town to add money to the budget and collect it in taxes in November. Because the article failed, the additional funds will have to be found within the existing budget.
The second article asked the voters to authorize the town to take an amount not to exceed $15,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund to cover costs associated with the 2008 audit.
EXISTING TOWN BUDGET
Article 2 reads, "Shall the voters of the town of Moretown approve the expenditure of a sum of money not to exceed $15,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund to pay for an audit of the 2008 financial records, in lieu of paying the expenditure by taking from other line items in the existing town budget that was approved by the voters on March 3, 2009?"
A yes vote would have allowed the town to take money from the Capital Reserve Fund without increasing taxes. Since the article was voted down by Moretown residents, town officials will have to find the money within the current budget.
The third article asked voters to allow the town to expend additional funds from the Capital Reserve Fund to pay for various items associated with the new town garage.
TOWN GARAGE
Article 3 reads, "Shall the voters of the town of Moretown approve the expenditure of a sum of money not to exceed $25,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund to pay invoices related to the new town garage project, in lieu of paying the expenditure by taking from other line items in the existing town budget that was approved by the voters on March 3, 2009?"
If the article was approved by the voters, the additional $25,000 would have been taken from the Capital Reserve Fund (without raising taxes); because the article failed, the funds will have to be found in the existing budget.
Currently, there is $47,000 in the Capital Reserve Fund. The three separate articles amount to approximately $50,000 that will have to be raised from within the voter approved budget.
SOLID MAJORITY REJECTED REQUEST
Van Deusen commended Moretown residents for the turnout at the polls, and continued,
"A solid majority of the people rejected the select board's request for funding for the three items, and therefore directed the select board to pay for these things (lawyers' fees, outside audit, and garage work) from within the existing budget. While I personally voted in favor of these articles, I would like to congratulate the large majority of you who voted against them. I respect your decision."
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