OFFICE OF THE SELECTBOARD
TOWN OF HALIFAX, VERMONT
TOWN MEETING INFORMATION HEARING- DRAFT
February 24, 2026
6:00 PM AT THE HALIFAX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MULTIPURPOSE ROOM and online
Note: the Meeting recording was posted in the requisite 24-hours at the Halifax Selectboard YouTube channel:
with a notice on the town website as well.
CALL TO ORDER
Edee Edwards called the meeting to order at 6:02pm. Other Selectboard members present were Karen Christofferson, Randy Pike, Rhonda Ashcraft and Lori Marchegiani. School Board members present were Paul Blais, Wade Ryan, and Cassie McLaren. Approximately 18 other voters were in person as well as about 8 people online which included 2 members of the media and Heather Tietgens from WSWSU.
Paul Blais moderated. The purpose of the Informational Hearing for Town Meeting Day is to review the items that will be voted on during Town Meeting Day.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
School Meeting Articles moved to the beginning of the meeting.
SCHOOL MEETING ARTICLES
In the Halifax School District annual report book, the school meeting articles are on page 16. In the Town Report they are on page 81.
Article III: The total budgeted expenses for FY27 is $2,636,178.
Article IV is to create a tax stabilization reserve fund. Article V proposes funding that tax stabilization reserve fund with $190,000 in surplus from the budget.
Blais answered a question to state that currently there is about $100K in the maintenance reserve fund. The tax stabilization fund could be used for any expense, not just maintenance projects, to keep taxes low another year.
The citizens present discussed at some length a wood-fire heating system grant that was not pursued by the school board and that is no longer available. Citizens were concerned that it sounded like the school directors did not receive complete information of advantages of the grant from the Supervisory Unit, despite an offer for sharing information from an employee with direct knowledge of a grant that was accepted at another school. Edwards eventually confirmed that because the grant is no longer available, this ultimately has no impact on the budget article III. A citizen asked about page 10, which shows FY27 interest income at $20,000, compared to $300 in FY26. Heather Tietgens explained that although the previous budget listed only $300, the actual annual revenue has been closer to $20,000. Interest income has not been budgeted accurately in the past during central office staffing challenges which are now stabilized.
Edwards noted there was a $290K surplus in the FY26 school budget, and asked if the current budget was going to be closer to the mark. Blais replied yes, although he did note they are some contingency amounts in the budget as usual.
An audience member asked about the repairs and maintenance line on page 8 which has been reduced, and Blais said the budget change reflects specific projects. Last year’s budget included heating system valves, along with $26,000 allocated for paving the walkway. These projects have been completed; this year some flooring is one of the projects in the budget.
Audience members asked about the statewide school‑consolidation proposal. Blais said he does not support the plan but believes Vermont needs a stronger tax base to stabilize education funding. He noted that small schools give students valuable access to vocational programs and trades, while consolidation could reduce supervisory unions but create transportation challenges due to longer travel distances. David Jones added that declining enrollment—shown on page 15—is one reason the state is considering consolidation. Tietgens will send Blais information on local homeschool numbers. In response to a question about Special Education, Blais said services will continue as long as there is student need, including both instructors and in‑class paraprofessionals.
Transportation bids for buses have been sent out.
Cara Cheyette asked whether different school boards have met to discuss consolidation. Blais said schools may close for reasons such as declining enrollment, educational quality, or failure to meet standards, and noted that Marlboro School could be contacted about students enrolling in Halifax. Edwards asked about students attending Franklin Tech High School in Massachusetts. Blais said he did not know that this would be allowed under the new VT law. He also explained that Massachusetts is changing its enrollment process to favor its own students, so out‑of‑state enrollment may be more competitive in the future even outside of Vermont law changes.
TOWN MEETING ARTICLES (starting on page 3 in the town meeting book)
Article 3: Shall the Town approve Selectboard and Highway expenditures of $2,497,692 of which $2,039,937 shall be raised by taxes and $457,755 by non-property tax revenues to care for the expenses and liabilities of the Town for FY27. The overall budget change is down 0.72%.
The Selectboard Budget Spreadsheet interlinks the sheets to combine and create the total budget
Changes include:
- Receiving paving grants
- Decrease in expected gravel costs due to Green Mountain Power projects
- Increase in ambulance service per their request.
- Small decrease in Selectboard stipend
- Removed contracted recycling to discuss as article 5
Audience members asked about oversight of Green Mountain Power, and Edwards explained that the highway supervisor monitored operations. While infrastructure upgrades by large utilities can be inconvenient when underway, they have led to fewer outages. Residents on Fowler Road thanked Green Mountain Power for improvements that reduced outages and left the road in good condition.
In response to a question about diesel fuel costs, Christofferson said the town bids fuel annually, Dead River won the contract, and prices have gone down. Pike noted that Green Mountain Power rebuilt 20 miles of Halifax roads with six inches of gravel—about one‑third of all town roads—so the board reduced the town’s gravel budget by a similar proportion. Christofferson added that the town negotiated with Green Mountain Power to include concrete headers on culvert replacements and to charge rent for parking company vehicles and equipment at the town garage.
Article 4: Shall the Town set the Treasurer’s budget for salary and collection of current taxes at $20,500 plus $4,000 for expenses for FY27 instead of any statutory fees allowed under 32 V.S.A. § 1672
Mary Brewster expressed her appreciation to Karen Christofferson and Patty Dow for their extensive work on the budget and transferring to the NEMRC system.
Article 5: Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $28,000 for contract recycling bin drop-off / roll-off pickup services?
An audience member raised the need for local recycling bins, noting that traveling to Brattleboro takes an hour round‑trip. She suggested using site monitors, identifying misuse on camera, and posting a littering‑fee sign. Edwards said the town needs a volunteer recycling coordinator. In response to a question about pickup frequency, she explained that the recycling company that won the bid estimated 37 annual drop‑offs, with bins emptied when the town notifies them. She added that misuse has created a need for cleanup now and again. Brewster asked whether students could help maintain the area, and Edwards supported the idea but said it would be more appropriate for high school students.
Requirements for the recycling coordinator are as follows:
- Check the bins and call for a pick-up once they are three quarters full.
- Gather volunteers for cleanup as needed
A camera was used briefly, but it was not practical. There is a sign about usage and enforcement.
Cheyette asked about actual numbers for the cost of recycling including contamination fees and time spent maintaining the service as the article cost only mentions the service cost. Edwards said there is no fee for contamination and the bins are unmonitored.
Article 6: Shall the Town authorize the elimination of the office of Town Auditor, with future annual financial audits to be provided by a public accountant licensed in this State in accordance with 17 V.S.A. § 2651(b)a
This article be voted on a paper ballot as stated in the law. Voters have previously eliminated and later reinstated auditors. It has become difficult to find candidates to these positions, and the town is currently paying for both elected audit roles and a professional audit.
Both appointed auditors spoke in favor of professional services due to their higher qualifications. Christofferson said it is beneficial for an annual professional audit as any gap years must also be reviewed, which is time-consuming and costly. Pike said professional audits can help with qualifying for loans and possibly also lead to savings on interest amounts.
Edwards said if this article gets approved, the current elected auditor would cease being in the position after a set number of days or at the point when we had a contract with a firm. The town would send a Request for Proposal and secure an auditor for a multi-year contract.
Article 7: Shall the Town establish a reserve fund to be called the Highway Equipment Purchase reserve fund to be used for partial prefunding vehicle and large equipment purchases in accordance with 24 V.S.A. § 2804
If the vote for Article 7 is passed; Article 8: Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 to fund the Highway Equipment Purchase reserve fund
Paying for first year equipment leases at the time of purchase rather than after year 1 of usage saves interest.
Article 9: Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $30,000 to fund the Operational reserve fund
Two years after Tropical Storm Irene, the town added this reserve fund to help the town resume normal operation in the event of an emergency. It was funded at $60,000. After two years it was used to cover costs from an ice storm. The fund was never replenished; this article asks the town to do that.
Article 10: Shall the Town appropriate a total of $20,165 to the following social service agencies, in accordance with 24 V.S.A. § 2691
- Names have changed to some organizations
- Last year’s updates included voters adding an amount for the MOOver and increasing the the Whitingham Free Public Library’s funding, but there are no changes of this sort this year.
Article 11: Discussion of other nonbinding business VLCT (the Vermont League of Cities and Towns) suggested this wording to emphasize no action is required by the town from anything that is discussed. VLCT previously advocated for–and Halifax tried–holding a second special meeting for these matters, but this is less effort and more traditional.
Blais asked about the final tax rate amount if all articles pass and Edwards said VLCT provides a tool to calculate an estimate of those amounts, but we do not have that tonight
ADJOURNMENT
At 7:27pm the Informational Hearing ended. A candidate forum was opened as a Special Selectboard meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Dow
Halifax Administrative Assistant
Recording Link: https://youtu.be/RwGrpVHz81s
