Published March 4, 2009

BROWNINGTON — Facing tough economic times the taxpayers of Brownington used their Town Meeting to take financial matters into their own hands.

Prior to lunch voters had already slashed the highway budget by $100,000.  The reduced appropriation of $218,692 was an answer to increased property taxes that angered many town members.

Additionally, Brownington residents ousted incumbent Selectman Armand Brunelle in a five-way vote.  Dean Perry was elected on the second ballot to serve the three-year term.

Speaking before the congress of residents, state Representative Bob Lewis summed up the economic concerns permeating the meeting.

“If we increase programs we have to increase taxes,” Mr. Lewis said.  “How many people here want increased property taxes?”

“Today is a good day to say no,” said Neal Perry.

Selectman John Kudla tried to assure the town’s citizens that everything that could be done to keep costs down was being done.

“We do run a bare-bones budget,” said Mr.  Kudla.  “We understand it’s a tough year for everybody.”

Despite Mr. Kudla’s assurances, Mr. Perry was adamant that taxes should be cut and money could be saved, despite the fact that it would take time.

“It’s like the show The Biggest Loser,” said Mr. Perry.  “You don’t go and lose 450 pounds overnight.”

Mr. Kudla appealed in vain to the crowd, saying that the roads would not be improved and that he thought that this was a step backwards.

Other appropriation articles that came up during the town meeting were also met with increased scrutiny by the vigilant audience.

Discussing a motion asking for $99,544 to aid in covering the municipal expenses, town member Terry Curtis was adamant that taxes and expenses could not keep going up.

“My taxes went up a third this year,” Mr. Curtis said.  “Where did that money go?”

Town Clerk Cheryl Perry explained that two-thirds of the town’s tax revenue went to schools, while Moderator Pat Davis attempted to explain that measures had already been taken in preparing the number.

“That’s a small part of the budget,” said Mr. Davis.  “That’s $100,000 down from last year’s request.”

During the school meeting, citizens were just as watchful about budgeting numbers as they were during the Town Meeting.

Residents voted to allow the school board to appropriate the total sum of $181,360 towards a gymnasium expansion project.

The addition will give more space to the school and aid returning seventh-graders, who previously had to attend neighboring schools after sixth grade.

The town will now be saving the $130,835 from its previously proposed budget that would have been spent to send those students elsewhere.

According to Brownington School Director Larry Chase, the new accepted budget is $1,308,264, a 6.39 percent decrease from last year’s school budget.