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Rutland Town presents FY26 budget warning showing 6.96% overall increase; voters to decide March 3
Summary
Selectboard presenters outlined a proposed town fiscal 2026 budget that includes a $1,415,187 general fund request, overall budget increases driven by insurance and personnel costs, and proposed changes to two depreciation funds. The legal warning for a March 3 town meeting covering articles 1–19 was read.
The legal voters of the Town of Rutland were warned that a special town meeting to consider Articles 1 through 19 will be held Monday, March 3, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Rutland Town Elementary School on Post Road, with a continuation for Australian ballot voting on March 4, 2025, the selectboard said.
Town presenters summarized the proposed fiscal 2026 budget and the warning for voters. Mary, one of the presenters, said, “The overall increase for our budgets is 6.96%.” She and fellow presenter Joe explained that the increase reflects higher health and general insurance costs, a 3% across‑the‑board salary increase for town employees, and loss of some non‑tax income sources used in prior years.
On the income side, presenters said the town is budgeting $1.3 million from the 1% local option tax and noted the cessation, at least temporarily, of hotel/Cortina payments that previously provided additional revenue. Joe summarized the general fund request at $1,415,187 and said the town is projecting total anticipated income of $1,685,390; if those projections hold, presenters said they expect an operating surplus of about $270,203.
Presenters identified specific budget items for voter consideration: a police fund request of up to $693,135, a highway fund request of up to $993,339, and a recreation fund request of $180,211. The police budget discussion noted continuing upward pressure from health insurance and pension costs and the staffing addition approved in the prior year. Highway presenters said the department expects higher retirement and health costs and increased vehicle maintenance as the town’s fleet ages but reduced contracted winter services because of recent purchases of town trucks.
The selectboard also explained new costs tied to the recently completed public safety building that now houses police and fire personnel. Budget lines added for the building include generator and backup power maintenance, propane heat (estimated about $5,000), sewer charges tied to the town’s connection to a municipal sewer, and a new phone/internet allocation estimated in the general fund.
On appropriations, the warning lists a set of community partners and amounts the town may be asked to support, including $15,000 for scholarships, $15,696 for the regional ambulance, and $110,095 for the Rutland Free Library; representatives from the library spoke in support of their request.
Two depreciation fund articles were described for voter action: a proposed increase in the Recreation Department depreciation fund from 0.0125 (1.25¢ per $100 of assessed value) to 0.0175 (1.75¢ per $100), and a proposed increase in the Highway Department depreciation fund from 0.005 (0.5¢ per $100) to 0.01 (1¢ per $100). The presenters read the precise ballot language for those articles.
The selectboard closed by listing open elected positions on the warning, including two selectboard seats, lister, cemetery commissioner and school board seats, and by reminding voters that the meeting will recess and reconvene for Australian ballot voting on March 4.
No formal town meeting votes on the FY26 articles were taken in this portion of the gathering; the warning was presented and budget details were discussed so voters can deliberate and vote at the warned meeting.
Ending: The board recessed the town meeting portion to permit the school board portion of the combined session to proceed and reminded the public of the March 3–4 warning schedule for Articles 1–19.
