Roxbury voters reject school budget
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By SARAH HINCKLEY TIMES ARGUS Staff - Published: March 4, 2009
BARRE – Roxbury voters had a hard time approving many things regarding money at this year's town meeting.
The $1,679,249 school budget was defeated by two votes – 87 to 89. Voters also defeated the article that asked for $4,000 to do a Phase I study about educational options for students of the district, a $3,000 request for traffic enforcement by the Washington County Sheriff's Department and chose to level-fund the highway budget for the town.
Voters did approve applying for a loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program to bring the school's drinking water into compliance.
After discussing the highway budget during the open-floor meeting, residents who attended decided to amend the highway request of $419,677 to the amount approved last year, $390,360, according to Town Clerk Tammy Legacy.
Voters also turned down a request to increase the veteran's exemption from $20,000 to $40,000. Last year voters approved increasing the exemption from $10,000 to the $20,000 amount. There are about six people in the town who would qualify for the exemption.
Roxbury was one of several towns in Vermont that saw a large increase in delinquent taxes. For the second year in a row, voters decided not to print the names of people who are delinquent on their tax payments in the town report. Voters also decided against printing the names of owners of unlicensed dogs in the town report.
According to Legacy, who was re-elected to the position of Town Clerk, there was a lot discussion around appropriations for nonprofits. She was not sure what the final adjustments were at press time.
Other elected offices include, Lucinda Sullivan as town and school moderator, Anne Maxham for town treasurer and collector for delinquent taxes, Tammy Legacy for school treasurer and collect of current taxes, David McShane for a three-year term on the Select Board, Amanda Melville and Michelle Dickinson were elected as school directors, Mary Warner and Shane Ryan for lister, Steve Twombly for town agent, Linda Maney for auditor, Richard Smith for grand juror and Sally Kirn for library trustee. Clarence Baker was written in as a candidate for first constable and tied with James Hedding for second constable, with four votes each.
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