http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20140124/NEWS02/701249974/1003
Published January 24, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Springfield finalizes $10.7M budget By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Select Board finalized a $10.7 million town budget, but it wasn’t unanimous. On a 3-1 vote, with one abstention, the budget plan was approved Wednesday night after a public hearing. Voting for the budget were Chairman Kristi Morris, and board members Stephanie Gibson Thompson and Peter MacGillivray. Voting no was Select Board member David Yesman, while Select Board member Michael Knoras abstained. The vote came after weeks of review. As finalized, it will require a 2.8 percent increase in taxes. The budget includes an additional police officer and firefighter/medic, with some decreases in the two departments’ overtime budgets. The budget also includes funding for road reconstruction, engineering services, and increased funding for sidewalk construction, in anticipation of a state grant to rebuild the sidewalk along South Street leading to Springfield High School. In addition, the budget includes a $1,000 increase for the book budget at the Springfield town library. The town level funded the paving budget, of which half, about $200,000, is earmarked for Pleasant Valley Road. Yesman said he is opposed to including $50,000 in funding in the Select Board’s budget for two independent organizations — the Springfield Regional Development Corp., and Springfield On The Move. Both are nonprofit organizations working on different aspects of economic development. Yesman said that the two groups were not accountable to the Springfield Select Board, despite the public funding. But Morris and Thompson said the two groups’ budgets were publicly available, and their reports and minutes were given to the Select Board monthly. Yesman and Knoras said they supported funding both groups, but not in the town budget. Townspeople should vote on the appropriation, they said, and cited the town charter. But the majority of the board pointed to a legal opinion from Town Attorney Stephen Ankuda which said the town could fund those organizations according to the town charter, and that was the path chosen by the majority of the board. The Springfield Town Budget Committee had also recommended funding the two organizations via the ballot box rather than the budget. Budget Committee Chairman Everett Hammond said the committee supported the town budget, which would raise taxes just under 3 percent, despite the disagreement over the funding for the two development organizations. Knoras said he abstained on the budget because he felt he needed “more information.” “Half of me says yes, half of me says, ‘I don’t know,’” he said. The Select Board will finalize the Town Meeting Day warning on Monday during a regular meeting at the town hall. 2014TopNewStories
More gamey tasting sausage brought to you by your select board.
ReplyDeleteSpringfield ought to put down another $50,000 in road pavement rather than wiz it away on dole recipients SRDC and Springfield on the Move.
ReplyDeleteWizzing money away is hiring another police officer. It won't make a difference, just another officer to set up speed traps.
Delete3-1-0 is still a tax increase unbelievable. How can this select board be a representation of the taxpayers and continue to ignore pleas for tax relief. I once made $17.10 per hour and now work 33 hours a week for $10.50 currently about $1800.00 behind on my taxes and you want more. Please listen I can't take anymore it's time for all to vote NO!
Delete12:27: "Livable wage" is the amount a person needs to make in order to stay above water in everything-- food, clothing, shelter, taxes (including property taxes), utilities, etc.-- EXCEPT (and it can be a big one) health care. An MIT professor has calculated livable wage for every county and the bigger towns in Vermont. In Windsor County, the livable wage for a single person is $9.04.
DeleteYou are being paid $10.50, but only working 33 hours a week, which factors out to $8.66 per hour!! And if you have health issues, you're likely to be drowning.
I don't know who does your taxes, but personal experience tells me that you are probably eligible for up to 50% relief, based on your income (age might play a factor also). Have them check it out.
If you are head of a household, your livable wage would be even higher. For example, a single parent with two kids needs to make $22 per hour.
You really ought to connect with the Vermont Workers Center, who work for changing conditions like yours. Look them up.
the problem is his current "condition", as you call it, will not ever change.
DeleteAnonymous at 9:45-- Why do you think it won't?
DeleteAssuming that the way things are is the way they will always be is to accept defeat.
One famous example-- Wall Street brokers today make millions, even billions-- Hedge fund manager Jack Strauss in 2011 made $9 billion-- and didn't pay ONE PENNY in taxes.
It wasn't always that way: In the 1950's the average trader on Wall Street made $5,000 (about $20,000 in 2013 dollars). THEY didn't accept that they should have to stay at that income. They change it, big time. So can we.
Why should we assume that a guy or gal who used to make $17 an hour for a 40-hour week will have to stay forever trying to make it on $10.50 for a 33-hour week? There are any number of things we could do-- and the Vermont Workers Center is a good place to start.
So do you see any candidate for change in the way the Selectboard governs?
DeleteGiven the attitude of most of the commenters, any recommendation I might give for a candidate would be the Kiss of Death.
DeleteKnoras is unbelievable. Abstaining from the most important vote of the year because he needs more information? What a farse.
ReplyDelete"half of me says yes, half of me says no."
I agree. He is elected to make decisions. But look, he is an old coot who should be voted off/out.
DeleteAh, but at least he occasionally asks questions, appears the only one willing to butt heads with Chairman Christi is Yesman, as a result Yesman has been able to successfully fulfil the role of the disloyal opposition.
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