Budget committee recommends delay on citizen petition; asks to craft financial policy first

The committee devoted the majority of its July 27 meeting to a detailed review of a citizen petition that would place an ordinance before voters covering tax-transparency, reserve limits and other financial rules. Petition author Carol (addressing the group) described the draft as a legal document that, in her view, requires the select board to place it on the ballot if signatures meet statutory thresholds. "This is a legal document," Carol said. "The select board puts it out to vote as written."

Other members raised implementation and clarity concerns. Committee members repeatedly asked what measure should be used to express the petition’s tax-impact language (tax levy versus mill rate) and questioned whether sections of the petition—most notably those relating to enforcement and reserve caps—were sufficiently clear or enforceable. One member warned that voters would be asked to decide without clear operational details.

After extensive discussion a motion carried to recommend the select board not place the petition on the ballot at this time and to give the budget committee until January to draft a financial policy that incorporates the petition’s concepts. The motion also requested that a select board member participate in the development of that financial policy. Committee leadership said the approach aims to give petitioners and the public clearer implementation language and timelines before a ballot question is presented.