MONKTON — Monkton will hold its annual town meeting and vote on fiscal year 2021 town budget items at the Monkton Central School on Saturday, Feb. 29, at 10 a.m.
Voting by Australian ballot to elect town officers, adopt a Monkton Town Plan, approve the unified school district and regional technical school budgets, choose presidential primary candidates and decide the fate of a proposed $1.7 million bond for the construction of a new municipal building will take place at the Monkton Fire Station on Tuesday, March 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voters are asked to approve $1,072,514 in highway spending next year, an increase of $166,342, or 18.3%.
Proposed spending on salaries and general expenses, if approved, would decrease by $19,713, or 5.5%, to $337,718.
Capital funds and voter appropriations, along with spending for the Monkton Fire Department and Russell Memorial Library, would, if approved, total $161,347, a decrease of $37,735, or 19%.
The selectboard is also asking voters to approve the 2020–2028 Monkton Town Plan. The proposed plan is available online at tinyurl.com/wx2ov6f.
Article 10 of the town meeting warning asks voters to consider supporting the distribution of natural gas in part of the Village District as per the Memo of Understanding signed by Vermont Gas Systems in June 2013.
Also at the Saturday town meeting, one final informational hearing will be held regarding a proposed municipal building, which would house the town offices, the library and assorted community meeting spaces. Then, by Australian ballot on March 3, voters will be asked to approve a $1.7 million bond to finance the construction of that building.
Two selectboard seats are up for election this year.
Bill Martin is running unopposed for another three-year term on the board.
Robert Fogg and Paul Low are running for the selectboard seat now held by Ann Layn, who has decided not to seek another two-year term.
One of Monkton’s two seats on the Mount Abraham Unified School District board is up for election this year.
Dawn Griswold, who currently chairs that board, is running unopposed for a three-year term.
The MAUSD’s own annual meeting was held Tuesday, Feb. 26, at Mount Abraham Union High School.
On Town Meeting Day, Monkton residents voting on town business will also, along with residents of four other school district towns, be asked to approve a $31,399,182 MAUSD spending plan for next year, about 1.45% more than this year’s adopted budget.
The proposed MAUSD budget would increase Monkton’s school tax rate by about 9.6 cents, or 5.8%, to $1.7507 per $100 of assessed property value.