Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Highway Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Budget committee recommends 2.2% increase for Highway Fund after debate
Summary
After Superintendent Ray Stapleton warned that a reduced 1.8% request was inadequate, the Budget Committee voted to recommend a 2.2% Highway budget increase to the Selectboard; the motion carried but the transcript does not list individual vote tallies.
Highway Superintendent Ray Stapleton told the Budget Committee that his original request for roughly a 2.2 percent increase in the FY27 Highway Fund had been reduced to 1.8 percent in the draft, which he said would be inadequate for essential services given rising fuel and materials costs and pressure on salt and sand supplies. Town Manager Brandon Gulnick joined the presentation and noted the need to reshuffle line items if supply or price issues worsen.
After discussion — including committee questions about statutory reconsideration procedures and the effect of rising fuel costs — the committee voted to recommend to the Selectboard that the Highway budget be set at a 2.2 percent increase. Dr. August Murray moved the motion and Chris Charest seconded; the motion carried (tally not specified in the transcript). The committee also discussed the special-article funding amount for the Highway article.
