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Selectboard narrows highway special-project accounting, sets several appropriations for ballot
Summary
At a budget-focused meeting, the Middletown Springs Selectboard debated moving special highway projects into separately tracked line items funded from surplus, confirmed recurring appropriations (Rescue Squad $39,700) and agreed to handle a late humane-society request by either leaving last year’s amount or placing the increase on the ballot.
The Middletown Springs Selectboard devoted its first hour Wednesday to budget work, focusing on how to account for highway projects without inflating routine operating lines. Chair (speaker 2) opened the session and the board reviewed a staff worksheet that showed the highway figure of roughly $130,000 including planned special projects.
Members debated three options for accounting: level-fund routine categories and place project costs (materials, hauling, rental) in dedicated special-project line items; pull payroll into project accounting; or leave payroll in wages but explicitly earmark surplus dollars for projects. "We need to be transparent about that," the staff member said, recommending that surplus allocations be shown rather than treated as a slush fund.
The board discussed specific projects and a proposed split of $48,085 from reserve to two projects (Garen Road ~$35,000; Daisy Hollow ~$13,085). Members agreed the costs for hauling and rental should be in the special-project line, while existing payroll hours would remain in wages and be proved by timesheet records.
On appropriations, recurring requests were confirmed: Rescue Squad ($39,700, unchanged), Vermont Farmers Food Center ($500) and several others previously voted onto the warning. The Rutland County Humane Society submitted a late request (its sliding-scale math showed Middletown at 11 animals); committee members said the society asked for $2.50 this year (up from $1.25) but the request arrived after the December 31 deadline. The board agreed it could keep last year’s amount or put the higher request on the ballot and would notify the organization.
The board scheduled additional budget tuning sessions next week to finalize line items and the town meeting warning.
