On Tuesday, March 5th, Vermonters will gather for their Annual Town Meeting, where voters get to participate in direct democracy. The Annual Town Meeting Informational Meeting, where the public will be able to ask questions regarding any of the warned articles, will be taking place at the Stowe Selectboard Meeting on Wednesday, February 28th.

Click Here for the Annual Town Meeting Informational Meeting Summary: https://www.townofstowevt.org/vertical/sites/%7B97FA91EA-60A3-4AC6-8466-F386C5AE9012%7D/uplo[...]pdf

Annual Meeting floor voting will include the General Fund Budget Approval and the amount to be raised in taxes. The net budget is proposed to increase from $11,384,231 in FY'24 to $11,688,242 in FY'25, an increase of $304,0111 or 2.67%. It is a status quo budget maintaining existing levels of service but recognizing wage pressure due to a tight labor market.

Capital projects will also be considered at the Annual Meeting on the floor. Proposed projects for FY'25 include Memorial Room Audio Video System Improvements ($20,000), Moscow Village Flashing Speed Signs ($20,000), Recreation Path Reconstruction – Town Farm Lane to Cape Cod Road ($480,000), Akeley Building HVAC Replacement ($485,000), Emergency Management Building Generator ($300,000). Capital project summaries can be found in the Town Report on page 20.

The Annual Meeting will also include a floor vote on whether the electorate desires to shift the approval of the budget and all other public questions from a floor vote at Annual Meeting to the Australian ballot (paper ballot). Currently, the voters only utilize Australian Ballot for the election of officers and approval of long-term debt.

Australian ballot articles include the election of officers, which includes the election of two Selectboard positions, a Lister, and Town Moderator. It also includes the following article: "Shall the voters authorize the issuance of general obligation notes or bonds of the Town from time to time during the period from June 2024 through December 2028, in an aggregate amount not to exceed Three Million and 00/100 Dollars ($3,000,000.00), Payable primarily from the net revenues of Stowe Electric Department, to fund the acquisition by Stowe Electric Department of equity shares of VT. Transco LLC (the Project")?

Lucy Leriche, the new Executive Director of the Lamoille County Housing Partnership, will also be attending the February 28th Selectboard Meeting to introduce herself.

Use this link to join the Selectboard Meeting Zoom. An executive session will be taking place at 5:00pm, with regular business beginning at 5:30pm. https://stowevt.zoom.us/j/81897824430

The link to the February 28th Selectboard Meeting Packet is: https://www.townofstowevt.org/2-28-24-packet

May 20, 2024, 6 to 8 PM

May 22, 2024, 11 AM to 1 PM

May 22, 2024, 11 AM to 12 PM