Rutland Herald
KILLINGTON — The town’s voters will be asked to support a $4,155,339 budget at town meeting in March.
The budget is just $51,766 more than it was in 2014, the last time the town had a 12-month budget. Killington budgeted for $6,287,154 in its current, 18-month budget, which spanned 2015 and parts of 2016 as the town shifted from a calendar year budget cycle to a traditional fiscal year.
Also on the ballot will be a $200,000 loan to pay for a new roof at Sherburne Memorial Library.
The loan will be funded from money in the library’s capital account, town officials say, and will not require raising additional taxes.
Structural repairs to the roof could in theory be done at a different time than shingle replacement, Select Board Chairwoman Patty McGrath told a resident at the board’s meeting last week — but it’s better to do the work all at once.
“Another thing to consider is that interest rates are at historic lows. Shingles are actually made from a petroleum product, so they are also at lower prices right now. Two or three years from now, we might not be looking at the same thing,” McGrath said. “You’re going to have to pay that money sooner or later — I would rather pay less.”
Also on the ballot will be a $400 appropriation to the Child First Advocacy Center, which houses the special investigations unit in Rutland County that investigates child abuse.
If approved by voters, the appropriation would be become an annual one.
Wendy Loomis, executive director of Child First, told Select Board members at their meeting last week that the center was approaching municipalities across the region for the extra funds.
The money would help fund prevention services, including professional development with educators in area schools, she said.
Two items won’t be on the ballot that Select Board members had earlier considered: land for a new fire station, and a reserve fund for a pool replacement.
With other items on the ballot this year, McGrath suggested the town defer asking voters about the pool, which is about 10 years away from needing replacement, town officials estimate.
“We certainly have to start making plans,” she said. “But at this point, I’m not sure it’s the right time to decide setting aside money.”
As for the fire station, Interim Town Manager Dick Horner told the Select Board last week a committee was trying to find a new spot for the fire station but hadn’t been able to find an appropriate parcel.
The town could always call for a special meeting to support the purchase of land if a parcel were identified, Selectman Chris Bianchi noted.
lola.duffort @rutlandherald.com
The budget is just $51,766 more than it was in 2014, the last time the town had a 12-month budget. Killington budgeted for $6,287,154 in its current, 18-month budget, which spanned 2015 and parts of 2016 as the town shifted from a calendar year budget cycle to a traditional fiscal year.
Also on the ballot will be a $200,000 loan to pay for a new roof at Sherburne Memorial Library.
The loan will be funded from money in the library’s capital account, town officials say, and will not require raising additional taxes.
Structural repairs to the roof could in theory be done at a different time than shingle replacement, Select Board Chairwoman Patty McGrath told a resident at the board’s meeting last week — but it’s better to do the work all at once.
“Another thing to consider is that interest rates are at historic lows. Shingles are actually made from a petroleum product, so they are also at lower prices right now. Two or three years from now, we might not be looking at the same thing,” McGrath said. “You’re going to have to pay that money sooner or later — I would rather pay less.”
Also on the ballot will be a $400 appropriation to the Child First Advocacy Center, which houses the special investigations unit in Rutland County that investigates child abuse.
If approved by voters, the appropriation would be become an annual one.
Wendy Loomis, executive director of Child First, told Select Board members at their meeting last week that the center was approaching municipalities across the region for the extra funds.
The money would help fund prevention services, including professional development with educators in area schools, she said.
Two items won’t be on the ballot that Select Board members had earlier considered: land for a new fire station, and a reserve fund for a pool replacement.
With other items on the ballot this year, McGrath suggested the town defer asking voters about the pool, which is about 10 years away from needing replacement, town officials estimate.
“We certainly have to start making plans,” she said. “But at this point, I’m not sure it’s the right time to decide setting aside money.”
As for the fire station, Interim Town Manager Dick Horner told the Select Board last week a committee was trying to find a new spot for the fire station but hadn’t been able to find an appropriate parcel.
The town could always call for a special meeting to support the purchase of land if a parcel were identified, Selectman Chris Bianchi noted.
lola.duffort @rutlandherald.com
Comment: I'm not sure what committee Dick Horner is talking about, the one I was on found multiple appropriate parcels for a new firehouse. The committee felt the community needed to learn more about the fire department and its needs and be more receptive to a new firehouse.
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