Staff report
The Slate Valley Union Unified School District budget passed 882-541in a revote on Wednesday, April 13.
The $26,236,547 budget approved by voters was $33,500 less than an initial budget proposal, which failed 861-853 on Town Meeting Day. “
We’re definitely happy and relieved — very thankful that people came out and voted ‘yes,’” Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell said.
The $33,500 reduction comes from operating costs associated with Castleton Village School. The operating costs are no longer needed since a Town Meeting Day decision by both Castleton and Hubbardton voters to close and purchase the building from Slate Valley for a total of $1. The change in ownership will start July 1.
Olsen-Farrell said the district focused on educating voters about the budget prior to the revote.
“We really doubled down on our efforts to communicate and target the parents and any educator that taught in our community,” Olsen-Farrell said.
The district encompasses six towns including Orwell, Castleton, Benson, Hubbardton, West Haven and Fair Haven.
While the projected spending per equalized pupil is 2.78% higher than the current year, the revised budget represents a tax rate decrease in all six towns.
The education tax rate in Orwell is expected to decrease by 15 cents, while West Haven will see a 13 cent decrease. Benson’s tax rate will go down by an estimated 12 cents; Castleton will see an 8 cent drop. Fair Haven’s estimated decrease will be 4.5 cents and Hubbardton’s will be 3 cents.
