Hartland school budget Q&A

The Hartland school budget re-vote will take place on June 11 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Damon Hall.

Voting early: Once the ballots are ready you can vote in person at Damon Hall and give the ballot to the Town Clerk, even if it is before voting day. Ballots are expected to arrive on June 5. The following Q&A was submitted by Hartland Elementary School, part of Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union.

When is the election and what is the new budget amount?

The election is warned for Tuesday, June 11 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at Damon Hall. The new budget to be voted on is $10,950,028.

When can I vote on the new budget?

As soon as the ballots arrive (expected on June 5), you can stop at Damon Hall to cast your vote.

Why is this vote so quick after the failed budget vote?

The state of Vermont allows for a 7 day warning timeline if a budget fails.

What happens if I can’t make it to the polls on June 11?

You can reach out to John Paulette, town clerk, to arrange a ballot be brought to you by two justices. You will need to vote and send the ballot back to the polls with the justices. This can happen as soon as ballots are printed and available at Damon Hall.

What has been cut from the budget?

After the board rescinded the budget in February, they made a $500,632 cut (equipment, supplies, and two teaching positions). After the reconsideration vote that failed the budget on May 28, the board cut another teaching position for $90,539. The total amount of cut from the budget is $591,171.

What happens if Hartland does not pass a budget by July 1?

If Hartland has not passed a budget by July 1, the Hartland Board will continue to bring forth budgets to the community until one passes.

What does it cost to hold an election?

Each time the town holds an election to pass the school budget, it costs the district a minimum of $1,400.

Will additional cuts to the Hartland budget save taxpayers significant money?

Hartland has 31 certified and 10 non-certified professionals on our payroll. For every certified staff member cut, a house appraised at $250,000 will save $56.

Is the budget increase in Hartland significantly higher than other communities in Vermont?

No, the average school budget in Vermont increased by 10.5% this year as a result of loss of federal funding, health insurance increases, negotiated wages and tuition increases (13%).