CRAFTSBURY – At the first of a pair of meetings in the week before Independence Day, the select board set the FY25 tax rate at 0.742, increasing from the FY24 rate of 0.666; continued the eight percent penalty for late homestead declaration filings and approved two fireworks permits at its Friday, June 27 special meeting.
photo from town recording
At its regular, July 1 meeting, the board reviewed plans for the town garage bridge; signed two grant agreements totaling $180,019.40 to cover paving, which will begin soon and a new website provider.
The state set Craftsbury’s education property tax rate at 2.0529 for the homestead rate and 1.8926 for the non-homestead rate. The tax rate increase “is a jump, and some people will not be happy with it,” said Town Clerk Michelle Warren.
Discussion of setting the tax rate took into account an expected interest rate of 3.65 percent on a planned $150,000 five-year loan to purchase a new town truck, appropriations approved by voters on town meeting day and the $40,000 property tax exemption approved for veterans, all of which resulted in expected town expenses of $1,090,256.
At the regular meeting, Bruce Urie reviewed preliminary bridge design and draft plans for a single-lane town garage bridge. The proposed bridge will be about 11-feet longer than the existing bridge. It is hoped a bid package is ready to go out by November or December.
In other business, Warren said she prepared a job description for a road foreman and is awaiting a response from the foreman. A new appointment is needed for the Craftsbury Conservation Commission, she said.
Before the special meeting adjourned, fireworks permits were approved for the July 3 block party and at a private residence, as long as the individuals setting off the fireworks adhered to all state regulations and licensing requirements after Allison Blaney raised concerns regarding liability and the need for licensed pyrotechnicians. Both permits required fire department approval as well.
At the regular meeting another fireworks permit was approved for Alan Paquette with Urie making the motion, Jim Jones seconding and the minutes recording two ayes and one nay.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
