Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budgeting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Scotland approves 2025–26 town and school budgets and keeps Code Red alert service
Summary
At its June 5 annual meeting, Scotland voters approved the town and school budgets for 2025–26, retained the Code Red emergency alert subscription and adopted the tax levy for the town and Regional School District 11. The Board of Education’s budget reflects a 0% increase achieved by eliminating one teacher and combining grades 2 and 3.
Scotland voters approved the town and Scotland Elementary School budgets for fiscal year 2025–26 and retained the town’s Code Red emergency alert subscription at the Annual Town Meeting on June 5.
At 7:07 p.m., First Selectman Dana Barrow, Jr. called the meeting to order. Voters moved and carried a motion to consider and act on the General Government budget and levy on the Grand List of Oct. 1, 2024, as presented. Jason Beaumont moved the budget motion with Barbara Syme seconding; the motion carried with two voters recorded in opposition.
John Beck urged the town to preserve the Code Red service, saying the town should keep an easy way to notify residents in emergencies. The record shows Code Red costs about $4,500 per year and roughly 500 residents were registered. Jolene Bowers said the town is assembling an email database for broader communications. A motion to continue the Code Red subscription, made by Shannon Howe and seconded by Heather Hartley, carried.
During discussion of the Scotland Board of Education budget, resident Sera Gadbois questioned teacher-student ratios and cited student assessment statistics. Superintendent Valerie Bruneau responded that ratios vary by grade, described benchmark progress, and said the school achieved a 0% budget increase by eliminating one teacher and combining grades 2 and 3 to balance staffing and costs. Denis Labelle moved approval of the Board of Education budget; Barbara Syme seconded and the motion carried with one opposing vote.
The meeting also approved levying the tax to fund the Regional School District 11 budget as proposed.
Votes at a glance: motions to consider and adopt the General Government budget and levy (moved by Jason Beaumont; second Barbara Syme) — carried (2 opposed); motion to retain Code Red (moved by Shannon Howe; second Heather Hartley) — carried; motion to approve Scotland Board of Education budget (moved by Denis Labelle; second Barbara Syme) — carried (1 opposed); motion to levy Regional School District 11 budget (moved by Denis Labelle; second Gracie Martin) — carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m. and minutes were submitted by Town Clerk Sharon George.
