GREENSBORO – The purchase of a $495,000 fire truck, abating taxes for the Caspian Lake beach and enacting a local option tax are the subject of a special Australian ballot vote next Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Greensboro Town Office.
If approved, the new fire truck would replace two vehicles, a pumper and a rescue vehicle.
As Chief Brochu explained to the board at previous meetings, the Greensboro Fire Department (GFD) needs the new truck sooner than next year’s planned upgrade.
In the proposal, available on the town website, Brochu said, “Your fire department has been concerned for some time about the reliability of our fire trucks. Our main truck is nearly 25 years old, and the backup is 40 years old. I have recommended to the select board that we replace the pumper as soon as possible.”
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) advises that fire trucks be moved to reserve status after 15 years and retired after 25 years, making Brochu’s request more than timely. Greensboro’s primary pumper, purchased in 2006, has developed recurring electrical and pumping problems, resulting in costly repairs and three failures during active fires. The department’s backup truck, dating from 1985, is well beyond its recommended service life. Within the town’s capital budget, payments for a new fire truck are not scheduled to begin until FY28. This is because the GFD had planned on the town ordering a custom truck with a three-year build time. Through a broker, however, Brochu located a new pumper immediately available, for $495,000. Two members of the department traveled to the broker in Alabama to inspect the vehicle, reporting it was in excellent shape and would fit the town’s needs.
At the July 9 select board meeting, purchase was approved and the board signed a sales agreement with Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, contingent on financing.
Article II, to abate taxes for the Caspian Lake beach, owned by the town of Hardwick, states Greensboro has never charged Hardwick taxes on the beach, which is used by residents of both communities. A recently-passed law states that education taxes are not to be charged to Hardwick. It is only in the ‘definitions’ section of the law that it identifies ‘municipal taxes’ for levy, unless the voters forgive taxes. This can be done for up to five years, which the ballot question asks voters to approve.
Article III, to enact a local option tax, proposes to add a 1% tax on short term rentals, meals and served liquor\.
Discussion at a June select board meeting deferred the question to the July meeting, with the eventual decision made to add a local option tax of 1% to the state’s 9% rooms and meals taxes as well as the 10% tax on served alcohol, raising those taxes to 10% and 11%.
At that meeting, Christine Armstrong said current room sales in Greensboro approach $1 million per year. The additional 1% room tax would roughly raise $10,000. The state would keep 25%, sending back $7,500 to the town annually.
The town won’t need to collect the tax. The amount would be included with sales taxes paid to the state by those providing rooms, meals and serving alcohol,. The applicable taxes would be then be sent to the town.
Residents can get absentee ballots via the town clerk by mail, or in person at the town offices. Absentee ballots can be mailed, put in the drop box outside the clerk’s office or brought to the town hall on voting day.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
