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Town staff and Selectboard weigh revenue options, including raising Local Options Tax
Summary
During the Aug. 4 work session staff outlined potential revenue and cost‑saving options to fund capital projects — including grants, a philanthropy campaign, equipment sharing and a discussed scenario of raising the Local Options Tax from 1% to 2%. No decision was made.
Planning & Zoning Director Aaron DeNamur and finance staff presented revenue and expense options the town could consider to fund capital projects and reduce pressure on the property‑tax rate.
Options discussed included searching for additional grant revenue (with probabilities built into the financial model), pursuing a philanthropy campaign for building renovations, equipment‑sharing arrangements with other governments to reduce capital costs, and potential operating reductions. Participants also discussed the Local Options Tax and "the possibility of increasing the percentage from 1% to 2%" as one revenue scenario; the board did not vote on any change.
Selectboard members and residents raised concerns about affordability and how the public would perceive any tax increase. Resident Ruth Hagerman told the board a roughly 12% tax increase would be unpopular, and Barbara Johnson urged the town to improve public communication about capital needs. Town staff said further work is needed to model options and present clear tradeoffs to voters.
