HOLLAND — After nearly an hour of debate the voters of Holland rejected the $1,006,277 proposed elementary school budget.
In his more than ten years of being moderator, Ernest Emmerson has never seen a proposed school budget fail. The budget, which would have been a 4.1-percent increase from last year, failed 54 to 42.
Robert Cooper strongly opposed the budget, citing concern of how much the citizens would have to pay in “stealth taxes” to make up for the federal mandates that the government does not cover.
“We should be able to know what this amount is,” said Mr. Cooper. He refers to previous budgets and thinks that the school board should give approximate figures for what the unfunded federal mandates are. He claims that the school board is making this too complicated and forcing the citizens to pay the difference. Mr. Cooper believes most of the town feels the same way, and the vote proves that.
“Historically the community has supported the school, and they still do. Really it has to do with the economy; people just cannot afford a tax increase,” said John Castle, principal of Holland Elementary School. “I’m not surprised it didn’t pass.”
The school board will head back to the drawing board to recreate the budget. Another meeting will be held in late April or early May to vote on the reconstructed budget.
An informational meeting about the school budget was held February 18, and according to Mr. Castle, fewer than ten people attended this meeting. Mr. Cooper, who was not at the informational meeting, said he does not attend school board meetings because he does not have the time, but that he fully supports the school. He said he thinks it is “up to the school board to represent the people of the town and do the right thing.”
In a town of 431 registered voters, 96 voters determined the fate of the school budget. Low turnout is a large reason for proposing moving the school budget vote to Australian ballot. The junior high and high school budgets are already voted on in this manner, giving voters 12 hours to cast their ballots.
“Most people can’t come to Town Meeting to vote on it,” said Town Clerk Diane Judd. Ms. Judd feels as though more people will turn out to vote for the budget if they do not have to attend a four-hour meeting. The article passed 63 to 20; the vote was taken by division. Although the budget will no longer be voted on at the meeting, it can still be discussed on the floor.
Another well-debated topic was whether the town should request that the Legislature forbid Entergy from extending the operation of Vermont Yankee past the 40 years of designed operation, which expires in March 2012. The vote passed 26 to 21.
“The one person who can close it is the federal government,” said Selectman Winston Dowland. He went on to say the only thing a yes vote can do is send a message to the government about the nuclear plant.
One of the concerns of voting yes was energy costs rising if Vermont Yankee is decommissioned. “Yankee claims it sells electricity for four cents,” said Mr. Dowland. He asked the crowd who actually gets that rate, and not one person spoke up.
“This will not shut down Vermont Yankee, I am sure,” said Mr. Cooper, “but it will force them to negotiate.” Discussion ended, and the vote was taken.
Voters agreed to continue allowing the select board to appoint or act as the road commissioner. Last year the select board acted as road commissioner and handled the comments and concerns of the public, and appointed a road foreman to oversee the projects.
The voters agreed to pass the selectmen’s budget of $475,468 on voice vote, with no discussion.
Town officers were also elected. Diane Judd will be the town clerk, treasurer, delinquent tax collector, and town agent. Gaetane Patenaude was elected as an auditor. Brian Currier was re-elected as a lister. Ernest Emmerson will be the moderator again next year. Clara Nadeau was re-elected constable, Michael Lyon was re-elected as a school director, and Karlton Davison was elected as a school director. Speedo Deskins will continue to serve as the town’s grand juror. Michael Percy was re-elected as cemetery commissioner. The town’s solid waste supervisor will be Winston Dowland. Viola Hauver will maintain her planning commission seat, and one other planning commission seat will be filled by the select board.
