Articles on the BallotAnd Some Questions and Answers (in red)
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ARTICLE 1: To hear the reports of the officers of the Town of Hinesburg.
ARTICLE 2: To elect the necessary town and school district officers by Australian ballot Tuesday, March 2, 2021:
ARTICLE 3: Shall the Town of Hinesburg adopt the town manager form of governance in accordance with the provisions of chapter 37 of Title 24 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated? (Amended 2019, No. 67 Section 21.)
Q. Why change from Town Administrator to Manager?
· Goal is to reduce turnover in Town administration
· Town’s growth issues require experienced, professional leader
· Town Manager more empowered to hold staff accountable
· Professional managers can identify cost saving opportunities
· Board has more time for implementing vision and policies
· Less liability exposure with personnel issues
· Improved internal and external communications
· 73% of municipalities over 2,500 population have managers
Q. Issues to consider under change to Town Manager:
· Professional Town Managers may cost more short term
· Selectboard less involved in day to day
· Selectboard less aware of minor personnel issues
· Selectboard will work through manager to communicate to staff
· A well crafted contract needed to protect Town and Manager
· No vote means Administrator will continue to lead town
Click here to view a presentation on Town Manager vs. Town Administrator.
ARTICLE 4: Shall the Town approve a General Government budget of $1,946,828 with the estimated sum of $1,411,403 appropriated from property taxes to defray the general government expenses of the Town?
Q. What does Article 4 include? A. It includes the following line items: Selectboard, Clerk/Treasurer/Elections/Delinquent Taxes, Planning/Zoning, Assessor, Buildings and Facilities, Recreation, Debt Service, Benefits, Insurance, and other expenses.
ARTICLE 5: Shall the Town approve a Highway Department budget of $979,902 with the estimated sum of $841,902 appropriated from property taxes to defray the highway expenditures of the Town?
Q. What are the major changes in the Highway budget from last year? A. A decrease of $61,982 due to the use of paving reserves and capital budgeting.
ARTICLE 6: Shall the Town approve the Hinesburg Community Police Department budget of $686,970 with the estimated sum of $596,470 appropriated from property taxes to defray the police expenditures of the Town?
Q. What are the major changes in the Police budget from last year? A. 1) the Howard Center Community Outreach program, where social workers partner with police to address social service needs at a cost of $7,365 - for the remainder of this calendar year 2) a new officer for community policing and shift/coverage backup - partially grant-funded for the first three years - at a cost of $45,000 (plus benefits) this year and 3) a $5,000 increase in dispatch services and 4) equipment repair/replacement for $2,000.
ARTICLE 7: Shall the Town approve the Hinesburg Fire Department budget of $376,295 with the estimated sum of $336,295 appropriated from property taxes to defray the fire expenditures of the Town?
ARTICLE 8: Shall the Town approve a new ambulance transport service budget of $178,149 with the estimated sum of 105,760 appropriated from property taxes to defray the ambulance transport service of the Town?
Q. Why are we voting on this issue again? Hinesburg needs to approve a budget for a new ambulance service before 7/1/21 when St. Michaels will discontinue service.
Click here to view the Pros and Cons
Click here to view frequently asked questions and answers about a Hinesburg operated ambulance service.
Click here to view the tax impact of a Hinesburg operated ambulance service vs. contracting with another service.
ARTICLE 9: Shall the Town approve the Carpenter-Carse Library allocation from the Town of Hinesburg of $225,487 with the estimated sum of $225,487 appropriated from property taxes to defray the library allocation from the Town?
ARTICLE 10: Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $37,700 with the estimated sum of $37,700 appropriated from property taxes, to be distributed as specifically designated to the following agencies and organizations?
Hinesburg Community Resource Center $23,100
UVM Home Care & Hospice (VNA) $6,500
Agency on Aging (CVAA) $2,000
VT Family Network $1,000
American Red Cross $400
Hinesburg Senior Meal Site $650
Vermont Center for Independent Living $200
Steps to End Domestic Violence $2,350
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont $500
COTS $1,000
(If voters approved Articles 4 through 10 as presented, total general fund expenditures of $4,431,331 will be required, with the estimated amount of $3,555,017 to come from property tax revenue).
ARTICLE 11: Shall voters authorize the payment of real and personal property taxes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, payable in full to the Town of Hinesburg in one (1) installment, with the due date being November 15, 2021? Any and all payments received in the Town Treasurer's Office later than midnight on November 15, 2021 will be considered delinquent and will be subject to the collection of interest at the rate of 1% per month or fraction thereof for the first three (3) months and thereafter at the rate of 1.5% per month or fraction thereof.
ARTICLE 2: To elect the necessary town and school district officers by Australian ballot Tuesday, March 2, 2021:
- Selectboard member for a term of 3 years
- Selectboard member for a term of 2 years
- Selectboard member for a term of 1 year remaining of a 2-year term
- Town Moderator for a term of 1 year
- Cemetery Trustee for a term of 3 years
- 3 Library Trustees for terms of 3 years each
- Peck Estate Trustee for a term of 3 years
- Champlain Valley School Director for a term of 1 year remaining of a 3-year term
ARTICLE 3: Shall the Town of Hinesburg adopt the town manager form of governance in accordance with the provisions of chapter 37 of Title 24 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated? (Amended 2019, No. 67 Section 21.)
Q. Why change from Town Administrator to Manager?
· Goal is to reduce turnover in Town administration
· Town’s growth issues require experienced, professional leader
· Town Manager more empowered to hold staff accountable
· Professional managers can identify cost saving opportunities
· Board has more time for implementing vision and policies
· Less liability exposure with personnel issues
· Improved internal and external communications
· 73% of municipalities over 2,500 population have managers
Q. Issues to consider under change to Town Manager:
· Professional Town Managers may cost more short term
· Selectboard less involved in day to day
· Selectboard less aware of minor personnel issues
· Selectboard will work through manager to communicate to staff
· A well crafted contract needed to protect Town and Manager
· No vote means Administrator will continue to lead town
Click here to view a presentation on Town Manager vs. Town Administrator.
ARTICLE 4: Shall the Town approve a General Government budget of $1,946,828 with the estimated sum of $1,411,403 appropriated from property taxes to defray the general government expenses of the Town?
Q. What does Article 4 include? A. It includes the following line items: Selectboard, Clerk/Treasurer/Elections/Delinquent Taxes, Planning/Zoning, Assessor, Buildings and Facilities, Recreation, Debt Service, Benefits, Insurance, and other expenses.
ARTICLE 5: Shall the Town approve a Highway Department budget of $979,902 with the estimated sum of $841,902 appropriated from property taxes to defray the highway expenditures of the Town?
Q. What are the major changes in the Highway budget from last year? A. A decrease of $61,982 due to the use of paving reserves and capital budgeting.
ARTICLE 6: Shall the Town approve the Hinesburg Community Police Department budget of $686,970 with the estimated sum of $596,470 appropriated from property taxes to defray the police expenditures of the Town?
Q. What are the major changes in the Police budget from last year? A. 1) the Howard Center Community Outreach program, where social workers partner with police to address social service needs at a cost of $7,365 - for the remainder of this calendar year 2) a new officer for community policing and shift/coverage backup - partially grant-funded for the first three years - at a cost of $45,000 (plus benefits) this year and 3) a $5,000 increase in dispatch services and 4) equipment repair/replacement for $2,000.
ARTICLE 7: Shall the Town approve the Hinesburg Fire Department budget of $376,295 with the estimated sum of $336,295 appropriated from property taxes to defray the fire expenditures of the Town?
ARTICLE 8: Shall the Town approve a new ambulance transport service budget of $178,149 with the estimated sum of 105,760 appropriated from property taxes to defray the ambulance transport service of the Town?
Q. Why are we voting on this issue again? Hinesburg needs to approve a budget for a new ambulance service before 7/1/21 when St. Michaels will discontinue service.
Click here to view the Pros and Cons
Click here to view frequently asked questions and answers about a Hinesburg operated ambulance service.
Click here to view the tax impact of a Hinesburg operated ambulance service vs. contracting with another service.
ARTICLE 9: Shall the Town approve the Carpenter-Carse Library allocation from the Town of Hinesburg of $225,487 with the estimated sum of $225,487 appropriated from property taxes to defray the library allocation from the Town?
ARTICLE 10: Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $37,700 with the estimated sum of $37,700 appropriated from property taxes, to be distributed as specifically designated to the following agencies and organizations?
Hinesburg Community Resource Center $23,100
UVM Home Care & Hospice (VNA) $6,500
Agency on Aging (CVAA) $2,000
VT Family Network $1,000
American Red Cross $400
Hinesburg Senior Meal Site $650
Vermont Center for Independent Living $200
Steps to End Domestic Violence $2,350
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont $500
COTS $1,000
(If voters approved Articles 4 through 10 as presented, total general fund expenditures of $4,431,331 will be required, with the estimated amount of $3,555,017 to come from property tax revenue).
ARTICLE 11: Shall voters authorize the payment of real and personal property taxes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, payable in full to the Town of Hinesburg in one (1) installment, with the due date being November 15, 2021? Any and all payments received in the Town Treasurer's Office later than midnight on November 15, 2021 will be considered delinquent and will be subject to the collection of interest at the rate of 1% per month or fraction thereof for the first three (3) months and thereafter at the rate of 1.5% per month or fraction thereof.