LINCOLN  — Residents in Lincoln will get together at Burnham Hall on Monday, March 2, at 6 p.m. to discuss and vote on municipal and elementary school budgets at their annual town and school meetings. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Burnham Hall on Tuesday, March 3, so residents can cast ballots for town officials and on the Mount Abraham Union High School budget.
On Tuesday voters will also determine the fate of a bond to pay for spending up to $590,000 to renovate and expand the existing town office — a step townspeople have mulled for years.
Citizens at the Monday evening meeting will consider a highway budget proposal that calls for spending of $994,429, of which $837,579 would be raised through taxation. The spending sum is less than 1 percent smaller than the budget for the present fiscal year, but the amount to be raised in taxes is $60,859 (or 7.8 percent) more.
Voters will also weigh in on proposed general fund spending of $325,546, of which $240,861 would be raised through taxes. The general fund proposal is $6,694 (or 2 percent) less than the spending plan voters approved last year; and it represents about 3 percent less to be raised by taxes.
An article on the ballot would, if approved, change the two one-year selectboard terms to two years in duration, beginning in 2016.
During the school portion of the meeting, voters will decide the fate of a spending proposal that totals $2,170,486. That sum is 6.6 percent higher than the budget voters approved last year. Residents by Australian ballot will also weigh in on the proposed $14.06 million spending plan for Mount Abraham Union High School. That sum is less than 1 percent less than the $14.09 million budget voters in the five-town Addison Northeast school district approved last year.
There are no contested races on the ballot. Incumbent town clerk Sally Ober and treasurer Lisa Truchon hope voters return them to their posts. Incumbent Selectmen Paul Forlenza and Will Sipsey are also vying for re-election.
Incumbent Christie Sumner and newcomer David “Scott” Bernoudy are running for open seats on the Lincoln Community School board. There is another vacancy for the LCS board for which no one is running. Barry Olson hopes voters return him to the Mount Abraham board.
Other candidates include: Wendy McIntosh for library trustee, Joshua Otey for first constable, Mark Truax for second constable, George Vince for town agent and grand juror, Will Sipsey for town and school moderator and Nancy Stevens for delinquent tax collector.