[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6307245,"mediaKeyId","2433922-1b0aaff11c3e7ec6bf30e1c4c4894fce","parentId",2433922,"title","Montpelier holds ballot informational session outlining FY26 budget, proposed tax and bond items","audioSeconds",1075,"startMs",1461000,"endMs",2536000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2433922-1b0aaff11c3e7ec6bf30e1c4c4894fce&start=1461&end=2536","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2433922-1b0aaff11c3e7ec6bf30e1c4c4894fce/thumbnail_1461000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6307245/Montpelier-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Montpelier-holds-ballot-informational-session-outlining-FY26-budget-proposed-tax-and-bond-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6307245-a6a93c154d3d1a84d146210cd129a329/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203130&Signature=Mutv7o3usrq5hL1egxT7V-YswU6r4tphgrC48bVDh8TJqGrHA37pqdhHnxV~-BX8yynPwVYDUsy-l6y65REvIgs4sweDp990kaJvHTKZ1Kwswhm-VLAc8WjVhmtWr7Y4w2hdNeeKsSP~GUBjQs8DfC2P8eM8-qIzUT78UjeQtMAqkrI1FZHUA0NCPDxhCwLKuc5YFPj9-yAlLc0DHZ7ncZChXCjYjjEIFtco5ovbeOIkR3Oa1lW-5Hm-IQrUO8FcLT-d2gr7E2aYdyx8xZaa8UiZj4FnunD3kba0Zch1AmqDGV46VMN5FQh-14kPwEqYEYx1DZqUpKMuG38TgqVHQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montpelier City, VT","date","2025-02-27T12:59:15Z","article","Montpelier City Council staff presented an informational briefing on the city's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and the items that will appear on the municipal ballot, including a proposed 1% local option tax and authorization for a ladder truck purchase.

The presentation, led by Kelly (city staff) with Sarah (finance director) on the line, said the FY26 general fund budget is roughly $18.1 million, an increase of about 4.7% year over year, and that the amount to be raised by property taxes is about $12.2 million, a 3.52% increase from the prior year. Kelly said non-tax revenues are projected at about $5.9 million, up roughly 7.6%.

The briefing highlighted several ballot items voters will decide. Staff described Article 5 as a 1% local option tax projected to yield roughly $500,000'$600,000; the presentation said the first $50,000 would go to Montpelier Live, the next $100,000 to infrastructure projects, and the remaining balance would return to the council for allocation. Staff said the downtown improvement district (Article 6) is printed this year with a dollar amount ($62,000) tied to increased property valuations resulting from a reappraisal, though the city said the underlying formula and rate are unchanged.

Kelly also described a single bond item to authorize purchase of a new ladder truck, estimated at $2.2 million. Staff said the city does not expect debt service to hit the operating budget for a couple of years because of procurement and delivery timing; authorization would allow the purchase to proceed. Other items noted in the briefing include a proposal to increase ambulance no-transport fees and regional ambulance fees (staff estimated additional ambulance revenue of roughly $100,000), and elimination of a commercial sprinkler tax credit (staff estimated the credit at about $71,000 in FY26, down from about $92,500 the prior year).

Staff presented capital funding numbers and staffing notes: the capital program was presented at about $2.6 million (up about 9.2%), including roughly $1 million in projects, $1 million in debt and about $484,000 in equipment; the FY26 FTE total was shown as about 12.96 positions after several reductions and realignments. Using the city's average home value example ($370,000), staff said the municipal portion of the typical residential tax bill would increase by about $166 annually (roughly $13.83 per month); when an estimate of the education tax is included, the presenter said the combined number used in the slide set would be about $91 per month (about $758 annually).

Councilors and staff invited questions from the public and discussed where portions of the budget will be presented for further review; staff said many of the operational items will return to council agendas through the fiscal year. Kelly also flagged several grant timelines and federal opportunities the administration is monitoring, including a Northern Borders grant application with a March 7 deadline and a congressional directed spending portal with a March 28 deadline.

The informational session was not a formal vote; staff said it was intended to inform voters and to help the council signal support as staff pursue additional matching funds and grants.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Montpelier City Council - February 26, 2025 LIVE","oneSentenceSummary","Montpelier City Council staff presented an informational briefing on the FY26 budget and ballot items, saying the amount to be raised by property taxes is about $12.2 million (a 3.52% increase) and summarizing proposed measures including a 1% local option tax and authorization to buy a $2.2 million ladder truck.","taxTitle","Montpelier City, Washington County, Vermont","taxId",68799,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6307230,"Residents testify about antisemitism in Montpelier schools and raise concerns over Article 13",468,2562000,3030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2433922-1b0aaff11c3e7ec6bf30e1c4c4894fce&start=2562&end=3030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2433922-1b0aaff11c3e7ec6bf30e1c4c4894fce/thumbnail_2562000.jpg","/articles/6307230/Montpelier-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Residents-testify-about-antisemitism-in-Montpelier-schools-and-raise-concerns-over-Article-13","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6307230-60954b7967faf4a836e2c29f61d3f95e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203130&Signature=TvhcvoSfg1wshHHO6a1~rZSkqCjni50bA8tCiYaUDeJm8voFyAx5Ja7Q65jR~VnkGe1BAmPosbJ~3NCPi4Vd2MIPWoAATDOHnQVsuLh-0hci2nDfDNdetZ-~QrWc~6ZBhf5tW9ufTGmvHdASkmQhd6PaQIBVlEVBaD9uXvrKSm6DRNGzDzYZpaHB8buP4Sbv12jYW3XlUQUdDhioR4507udqUH3qDNMrkonTpu1tLptEuRpqgiZsqxT9ThoP09H5~KGaeuDY1gCS~N3XFW2IPzzh4rlvO1lDLhOuvZXUh7kjQ~Xrf0WcjXPetcTOPsAcwsijQlyElKTcuRcP-7hQaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple residents told the Montpelier City Council they have experienced or witnessed antisemitism in the community and voiced opposition to Article 13, which several speakers said purports to link local tax dollars to U.S. military aid to Israel.

Lex Lakin testified about repeated incidents of antisemitic harassment dating to elementary school, including a class project that celebrated Hitler, taunting and tropes directed at Jewish students, and a bathroom incident two years earlier involving a feces display at the high school. Lex said school responses at the time were inadequate and that restorative circles and other actions did not address the harm. Lex said the repeated incidents had left Jewish students feeling unsafe.

Marnie Lakin read a prepared statement recounting inaction in response to those incidents and said that in a more recent episode the principal did call the police and the Department of Education's Civil Rights Office. She said Article 13 \"feels like antisemitism\" in the local context and that the article asks the community to vote on whether Jewish residents can be safe in Montpelier.

Celeste Rubinstein said a friend received a flyer urging support for Article 13 that alleged Montpelier's 2024 share of U.S. military aid to Israel was $678,850 and suggested the money could instead fund local priorities such as a fire truck. Rubinstein said she believed that assertion to be misinformation; she urged the council and the public to listen to the students who described personal experiences of antisemitism and to avoid treating complex international matters as local ballot issues.

Councilors allowed the public commenters their time; the mayor reminded speakers of the three-minute limit. No council action on Article 13 occurred during the meeting; comments were taken during the general public-comment portion of the agenda.","Several residents testified about repeated antisemitic incidents in Montpelier schools and objected to Article 13 on the municipal ballot, saying the article feels targeted and is based on misinformation; speakers urged the city to ensure safety for Jewish students and to avoid turning complex foreign-policy questions into local ballot measures.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6307235,"Council supports $100,000 commission project commitment; some councilors press for public-records and open-meeting safeguards",458,985000,1443000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2433922-1b0aaff11c3e7ec6bf30e1c4c4894fce&start=985&end=1443","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2433922-1b0aaff11c3e7ec6bf30e1c4c4894fce/thumbnail_985000.jpg","/articles/6307235/Montpelier-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Council-supports-100000-commission-project-commitment-some-councilors-press-for-public-records-and-open-meeting-safeguards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6307235-ea3e987a4151ed2966bd885d9efa666a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203130&Signature=it34AI35XuRYcYftVZv17Vd9uTvdCtzhyOtXnnHzOYFjZrysgRB1xzRVW1jsxVPxfiI04cUD4o2eidfDCTBI5sXr6bQfGPQmearDUDR4xz6yL4cOXhGeW25cs4pCGh4vJGDHz15UYZQXS6bAhLwJsrIlkQldW4wtUlOJWzbLnufmB9J1o1xxKd0NDCucNqLe76UEAIoXqP4z1S6ZuqK5bv7wXyYdAHB3efMCYRDrxclZuf9WY2dYVQxX5N52BkY4G-nMcBMbPLMKYisiHHpLPSxc6aOb29aYnBTWFRcLnwO87q9~jlCzl2niOD2AWL1pY5CVV8SCJ~G-7peNqAI13w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A commission representative told the Montpelier City Council the commission is returning with specifics for three projects: a downtown building assessment to advise property owners on flood resiliency improvements, a river's edge master plan to address the river corridor and flood resilience, and proactive planning around the Federal Building parcel and adjacent parking lot as the General Services Administration moves toward disposition.

John (commission representative) said each project costs more than the $100,000 the commission initially asked the city to commit last summer and that the commission is seeking a city share to leverage additional funding. He estimated work could move in calendar 2025 and through spring 2026, and said the city's contribution would be used to attract other funding sources.

Councilor Carrie and other councilors indicated support for the work but asked questions about timing and public engagement. Councilor Steve urged that the city reconsider or make the commitment contingent on compliance with public meeting and public records law, saying he is uncomfortable delegating core municipal planning work to an outside body \"doing business behind closed doors.\" Steve also asked why related matters were not reflected in the city's municipal plan draft and said such projects should not be carried out secretly when public money is involved.

City staff said the funds would remain in the city's coffers and that reimbursements would follow usual processes; staff described the council action as an expression of awareness and support that would help the commission pursue additional grants. Councilors discussed that subsequent project-level work would likely be handled between commission staff and city finance staff (Sarah) without returning each minor decision to the full council, given the funds were already committed.

No formal vote to obligate new funds was recorded in the meeting transcript; councilors agreed the projects were consistent with previously expressed commitments and encouraged staff and commission representatives to continue pursuing grant funding and to return with further details.","The council heard details from a commission representative about three projects (downtown building assessment, river's edge master plan, and planning around the Federal Building parcel) that would use a previously pledged $100,000; some councilors urged the commitment be contingent on compliance with public meeting and records laws.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6307239,"Montpelier council voids Article 12 after ballot print error; ballots cast for that article will not be counted",137,1522000,1659000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2433922-1b0aaff11c3e7ec6bf30e1c4c4894fce&start=1522&end=1659","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2433922-1b0aaff11c3e7ec6bf30e1c4c4894fce/thumbnail_1522000.jpg","/articles/6307239/Montpelier-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Montpelier-council-voids-Article-12-after-ballot-print-error-ballots-cast-for-that-article-will-not-be-counted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6307239-6378c5ace920f952792d0bb24c6925b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203130&Signature=WAPnyY0CdJXnXKRp8gFc37zmadokSPO2fkuttD9qSadS6IhQTdVffgAHgiY8bT81tV2dgcoD0Elpz3zDwMrIG8xXEyKHRaCN1BzwPOoo2mqoWWFWoQh7Y2WNFc7z3AO8N5nbYmlhEiFR-veD7MoJZA6KAe-2aP0rlgauylFB~x8d35lahoKP2qcgy017PmZBViIieBztFEUcXg3EUsUn4OMPpEytKtGgguVdwRasiYKm55~L3vYzXS9HZuGegaR8EJ~3b~oqC2JzAgUlJST4h5jY3GrodRhiO3SqLEu3BN1lqusQUDTO-RY2CWhkw~PIT338ABkv8uoPSucWiOBMOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montpelier City Council voted to void Article 12 on the upcoming ballot after officials concluded a printing error left the article's wording unintelligible.

City staff and council members said the error resulted from a mismatch between the city clerk's office and the printer. John Odom (city staff) told the council the wording on Article 12 as printed would be \"unintelligible and meaningless,\" and advice to void the printed article was recommended. The council moved, seconded and voted in favor; meeting participants said the motion carried with aye votes and no recorded opposition.

Staff explained what voiding will mean for already cast ballots: ballots that have already been cast for Article 12 will not be counted or recorded, and ballots that pass through tabulators on town meeting day will be processed but not reported as Article 12 results. The city said it will likely post signage at polling places advising voters they do not need to vote on Article 12 and that a special city meeting will be required in the future to address the substance of the article.

Councilors did not specify a mover of the motion on the record in the transcript. The council asked staff to follow up on next steps to reschedule consideration of the question at a later date.","Council voted to void Article 12 because the printered wording was unintelligible; staff said ballots already cast on that article will not be recorded or reported and a special city meeting will likely be required to address the item later.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Montpelier holds ballot informational session outlining FY26 budget, proposed tax and bond items

Residents testify about antisemitism in Montpelier schools and raise concerns over Article 13

Council supports $100,000 commission project commitment; some councilors press for public-records and open-meeting safeguards

Montpelier council voids Article 12 after ballot print error; ballots cast for that article will not be counted