WARNING

TOWN OF THETFORD, VERMONT

 

The legal voters of the Town of Thetford in the County of Orange and the State of Vermont are hereby warned to meet in Anderson Hall, Thetford Academy, in the town of Thetford, on Saturday, March 1st 2003 at 9:00 am, to transact the following business:

 

ARTICLE 1                To hear and act on the reports of the Town

 

ARTICLE 2                Shall the Town have all taxes raised in the Treasurer’s Office on or before Wednesday, October 15th, 2003 by 5:00pm.  After this deadline, interest of 1% per month or fraction thereof for the first three months and thereafter 1.5% per month or fraction and 8% penalty will be due the Town.

 

ARTICLE 3                Shall the Town authorize the Selectboard to borrow money for current expenses in anticipation of taxes.

 

ARTICLE 4                Shall the Town authorize the Selectboard to pay off any outstanding debts ahead of schedule if funds are available.

 

ARTICLE 5                Shall the Town vote to authorize the delinquent tax collector to collect delinquent property taxes in payments sufficient to pay total due within 6 months of the due date.

 

ARTICLE 6                Shall the Town raise the sum of                         for the budgeted expenditures of the Town General Fund.

 

ARTICLE 7                Shall the Town raise the sum of                         for the budgeted expenditure of the Highway Department.

 

ARTICLE 8                Shall the Town raise the sum of $75,000.00, to be added to $63,000.00 in existing funds, to establish the Town Recycling Center permanently.

 

ARTICLE 9                Shall the Town authorize the Selectboard to contract with a private hauler  for removal of solid waste.

 

ARTICLE 10              Shall the Town vote to change from our current ambulance service, Upper Valley Ambulance, to the Town of Hanover Ambulance service.

 

ARTICLE 11              Shall the Town raise the sum of $45,000.00 to be added to the Highway Capital Equipment Replacement Fund.

 

ARTICLE 12              Shall the Town raise the sum of $25,000.00 to be added to the Highway Capital Equipment Replacement Fund to be used for future fire truck replacements.

 

ARTICLE 13              Shall the Town authorize the purchase of a new dump truck to replace truck #2 at a cost not to exceed $65,000  to be financed through the Highway Capital Equipment Replacement Fund

 

ARTICLE 14              Shall the Town authorize the purchase of a used pickup truck, at a cost not to exceed $3,500.00 for the Highway Department.  The $3,500.00 would be spent from the Highway Capital Equipment Replacement Fund.

 

ARTICLE 15              Shall the Town authorize changing the Union Village Bridge Special fund to a new Special Bridge Maintenance fund.  This fund would be used for future major construction expenses on Town bridges.  Any money spent from this fund would require a vote at the Annual Town Meeting.

 

ARTICLE 16              Shall the Town authorize the spending of $5,000.00 from the Special Bridge Maintenance fund to match State funds for the repairs and reconstruction of the T. H. #55 Bridge #20, Stowell Rd. Bridge.

 

ARTICLE 17              Shall the Town raise the sum of $5,000.00 to match State funds for the repairs and reconstruction of the T. H. #55 Bridge #20, Stowell Rd. Bridge.

 

ARTICLE 18              Shall the Town authorize the spending of up to $1,300.00 from the Special Emergency Management fund for the installation of a generator hook-up at the renovated Town Hall.

 

ARTICLE 19              Shall the Town vote to eliminate the office of Town Auditors and contract with a licensed public accountant to perform an annual financial audit of all funds of the Town, under the authority of VSA, Title 17, Section 2651b.

 

ARTICLE 20              Shall the Town raise the sum of $9,800.00 for the Visiting Nurse Alliance of Vermont and New Hampshire, Inc.

 

ARTICLE 21              Shall the Town raise the sum of $300.00 for Safeline.

 

ARTICLE 22              “Be it resolved that the Town of Thetford fly the POW MIA flag under the American flag in front of Town Hall on six national holidays (Armed Forces, Memorial, Flag, Independence, National POW MIA Recognition and Veterans Day).”

 

ARTICLE 23              “Be it resolved that the citizens of the Town of Thetford urgently call upon our municipal leaders, state legislators, governor, and the congressional delegation to put Vermont in the forefront of sustainable energy future.  Specifically, we request immediate and ongoing action on legislative initiatives designed to promote energy efficiency in Vermont homes, businesses, public buildings, and transportation systems, and to encourage expansion of the renewable energy industry in the state of Vermont.”

 

ARTICLE 24              “RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE STATE ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE EDUCATION FUND PAYMENTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES;

Resolved by the citizens of the Town of Thetford, as follows:

WHEREAS, Act 60 created a State Education Fund with revenues principally coming from the property tax supplemented with State General Fund revenues; and

WHEREAS, the inflationary growth in the value of real property in Vermont has resulted in significant growth in revenues from the property tax in the Education Fund while State General Fund resources for education have not increased to match the growth in education spending; and

WHEREAS, under Act 60 the state contribution to local education funding is principally derived from the statewide education tax rate, set at $1.10 since adoption. However, the education block grant to local school districts has grown at a rate considerably less than the inflationary growth in statewide property values; and

WHEREAS, local school districts are highly dependent upon the property tax , while the State General Fund has at least 17 major broad-based taxes at its disposal; and

                                                WHEREAS, the State annually sets for all municipalities an Equalized Education Grand List which is adjusted for the inflationary growth in local property values and said adjustment is represented, in part, by a measure known as the Common Level of Appraisal; and

WHEREAS, the single largest contributor to the estimated increase in many FY 2004 local school tax rates, as it was in the FY 2003 school tax rates, is estimated to be the adjustment for the Common Level of Appraisal; and

WHEREAS, it appears that the additional property tax revenue received by the State through the annual adjustment to the Equalized Education Grand List when coupled with the more modest growth in the education block grant will result in continued growth in surpluses in the Education Fund and will not result in an equitable distribution of funds to offset the growth in local education tax rates;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the citizens of the Town of Thetford call on the Governor and the members of the Vermont Legislature to take the necessary action to increase the education block grant or reduce the statewide property tax rate in an effort to reverse the trend of increasing school property taxes.   

 

ARTICLE 25              To transact any other business.

 

The following article shall be voted on by Australian Ballot on Tuesday March 4th, 2003.  Please take note that Australian Balloting will take place from 8:00am to 7:00pm, at the Thetford Center Community Association Building, located next to the Town Highway Garage.

 

 

 

ARTICLE 25              To elect Town and School Officers.

 

Dated: January 27, 2003

 

 

Roberta C. Howard                             Richard Barrows

Town Clerk                                         Sara Ferguson

Paul Raymond

Mary Spata

Mark McMahon, Chair