The total tax rate increase, including the school tax, comes at a 36 percent increase from the previous year.
Town officials said that the tax rate reflects the 2009 budget that was approved by residents on Town Meeting day. The town budget increased 7.8 percent from 2008 to 2009. The increase in the town tax rate in part is due to last year's rate not being set high enough, according to select board members.
BOARD'S REASON
Other reasons include the loss of $36,000 in state highway aid, the town clerk's transition to full time, as well as additional hours spent on a town librarian and zoning administrator.
Moretown resident Jack Wood questioned the board's reasons for both splitting the town clerk/treasurer position into two positions as well as the increase to full time.
"They should both be half time," Wood said. In addition, Wood referenced the select board assistant's increase in hours from 30 to 35 hours per week.
Moretown resident Gary Leboeuf agreed with Wood and urged select board members to "watch where we're spending."
HALFWAY THROUGH
"We bit off more than we can chew," Leboeuf continued.
Select board chair Rae Washburn explained, "We were so much over budget last year; we have to get it back."
Select board member Rob Roberts said, "We've got to cut in the beginning, not when we're halfway through."
Town officials discussed their Town Meeting agenda and possible ways to increase awareness and education on town spending and budget issues. Select board member Stephanie Venema said, "We get a lot of input, but there isn't a lot of information being given out."
WHOLE PICTURE
"We never give the whole picture of what's going on in this town," she continued, in reference to Town Meeting day.
Leboeuf agreed, and added, "People still don't know how their taxes arrive; they should be taught on or before Town Meeting day."
Select board member Dave Van Deusen suggested investigating ways the town could use the Moretown Landfill tipping fees to "ease the burden."
USE THIS MONEY WISELY
"We should take a hard look and use this money wisely," he continued.
Residents then discussed suspending town expenditures and perhaps even voter-approved projects like the Town Hall or the library.
"Somebody's got to bite the bullet and say stop the spending," Leboeuf added.
Van Deusen said that another reason this year's rate increased is the "massive hike in health insurance costs."
RECONSIDER THE TAX RATE
Wood asked if the board would reconsider the current tax rate. Washburn said that the only way to change the tax rate would be to remove money from the capital reserve fund or the capital savings account.
"If I knew on Town Meeting day that voting that money into the capital reserve would result in this much of an increase, I would have never voted for it," Wood said.
{loadnavigation}
