PANTON — Panton residents have cause to celebrate this Town Meeting Day; the sum of tax money the town wants to collect is lower than what was called for in Fiscal Year 2026.

Officials predict $1,120,912.46 will be needed to run the town this coming fiscal year, less than $1,000 higher than the $1,119,954 voters earmarked for FY26.

But the FY27 spending plan calls for $948,188 to be raised by taxes, which is down $7,710 from the $955,898 requested for FY26.

Though there is no set tax rate yet, Town Clerk Kyle Rowe predicts it could be $535 per $100K of assessed property value, down from $536.

“Major changes affecting the budget this year was a change in benefits for employees, an increase in non-tax revenue, a reduction in some outside professional services, a reduction in debt service, and a continuing commitment to judiciously fund Reserve Funds,” said Panton Town Clerk Kyle Rowe.

Officials are asking voters to earmark $10,000 for the Highway Capital Equipment Fund and $2,000 for the Reappraisal Fund. That money would be raised by property taxes, and is not included in the proposed budget figure.

Another added cost, also to be paid for with taxes if approved, is $11,201 requested by 17 local non-profit and charitable organizations. The Adams-Kent Cemetery Association would receive the highest sum ($2,500), the Turning Point Center the second-highest ($1,000) and Elderly Services Inc. the third-highest ($850).

The 14 other organizations with a line are asking for between $50-$800, if the article is approved by voters.

Funding for the year-old Commodore Club, which the Vergennes Recreation Department formed in spring 2025 to fill the gap in services left by the defunct Boys and Girls Club of Greater Vergennes, is tackled in two separate warned articles. The first asks voters to re-appropriate $1,000 meant for the former Boys and Girls Club last year to go to its replacement, and the second asks voters to approve an additional $1,500 in town funds for the fledgling organization.

According to Rowe, even with all these added appropriations, the sum of money to be raised by taxes still comes under what the FY26 plan called for.

In addition to these financial decisions, Panton residents will cast votes for elected officials, though there are no contested races this year.

Zach Weaver, who has been on the selectboard since 2016, will clinch another two-year term. And Robert T. DeGraaf, who began his tenure on Panton’s selectboard in 2025, is running unopposed for the open three-year seat.

Voters will also weigh in on the Addison Northwest School District’s FY27 budget, which is proposed at $28,314,179, slightly higher than the spending approved last year by residents of Panton, Addison, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes and Waltham.

The tax rate won’t be concrete until a state budget is passed and state aid is known. Still, district officials outlined illustrative tax estimates if the spending plan is passed as warned. For Panton residents that figure is $1.2691 per $100 of assessed property value, up from $1.1922, which represents an increase of less than 8 cents or about 6.5%. It would increase property taxes about $80 per $100,000 of assessed value.

The ANWSD Annual Meeting on this budget is scheduled for Monday, March 2 at 6 p.m. at the VUHS library.

Panton’s annual informational meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 2, at 7 p.m. in the Panton Town Hall.

Voting on the municipal and school budgets, elected officials, and other warning articles will take place at the town hall the next day, Town Meeting Day, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.