Citizen petition asks Select Board to put estimated tax impact on each warrant article

Resident Brenda presented a citizen petition to the Select Board asking that voters be given an estimated tax impact for each warrant article on the ballot. She said the petition carries 107 verified signatures and asked the board to include the language and to have the town lawyer review it.

The petition’s language (shared with the board) seeks to provide clearer information so that voters can see how each warrant article would affect their taxes. "Those hundred and 7 people plus additional people have given feedback. They just wanna understand each of them," the petitioner said.

Board members and residents debated trade-offs. Some selectmen and the budget committee noted that certain warrant items are already embedded in the general budget and that displaying an 'estimated' tax impact could mislead voters unless clearly labeled as an estimate. One board member suggested the public could get full context at the deliberative session and that a simplified budget worksheet is already produced by the budget committee.

Resident Kevin Kaufman spoke in favor of greater transparency. "I think that's a good piece of knowledge that the taxpayers should be able to have at their disposal," he said, urging the board to provide tax‑impact figures alongside warrant items.

The board agreed the petition must be accepted and that language will be reviewed by legal counsel; staff and the clerk will verify signatures and publish the petition as required by statute. The board also discussed ways to increase attendance at the deliberative session and to provide explanatory materials for voters.