AREA TOWNS – The Wolcott and Mountain View School districts are each respectively headed to a third round of budget voting.
The public information meeting about the Wolcott FY27 budget took place Tuesday, May 12, at Wolcott Elementary School, both in person and virtual.
A public information meeting on the MVU FY27 budget is set for Thursday, May 14, from 6 to 7 p.m., with the school board meeting taking place from 7 to 8 p.m., in the same location, at Hardwick Elementary School.
The third round of Australian voting for MVU will take place May 20, with further personnel cuts in an effort to appease voters.
For the Mountain View Union School Budget Vote, voters can come to the polls at these locations by town of residence: In Hardwick, polls are open Wednesday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Hardwick Town House, 127 Church Street.
In Greensboro, polls are open Wednesday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Greensboro Town Hall, 81 Lauredon Ave.
Stannard polls are open Wednesday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Stannard Town Hall, 615 Stannard Mountain Road.
In Woodbury, polls are open Wednesday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Woodbury Town Hall, 3675 Vt. Route 14.
Australian ballot voting will take place the same day for Wolcott residents, at polls at the Wolcott Town Office from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
As stated by Superintendent Dr. David Baker in the OSSU Superintendent Newsletter Group, “We would be remiss if we did not point out that two of our communities have to revote on their budgets after their votes failed. Mountain View’s official vote returns: Yes: 282, No: 315. Wolcott’s official vote returns: Yes: 121, No: 149.
Both school districts will vote for the third time on their budgets on Wednesday, May 20. The boards have made reductions to both budgets.
“We highly encourage reading the budget information sheets and attending the public informational meetings prior to voting,” wrote Dr. Baker. He also noted the state has not finalized the Yield Bill, thus making the amount the school district will receive in FY27 unclear, “With respect to the Yield, which has a direct impact on our tax rates, there is another divergence. The House voted out a bill that has the Yield set at $9,170. The Senate Finance Committee just passed a Yield bill that set it at $9,395.The latter Yield is more in line with the Governor’s proposal to use the state’s carryover revenues for taxpayer relief. I think the Yield will end up on the higher side.”
The expense increase for this MVU budget is lower than the state average, according to informational materials. The total expenditure budget is $9,065,204.25. This is a 1.02% expense increase over FY26 adding $91,604 to the budget. The FY27 state average expenditure increase across districts is 3.59%. This reduces the budget by another $113,088, comprised of the following: PCB Testing, as well as a “Reduction in Force” by attrition of a 1.0 Full-Time Equivalent Pre-K Teacher, meaning a position is being vacated at the end of this year which will not be filled.
The expense increase for this Wolcott budget is also lower than the state average. The total expenditure budget is $6,298,447.05. This is a 3.18% expense increase over FY26. The FY27 state average expenditure increase across districts is 3.59%. This budget proposes reducing a 1.0 Full-time equivalent Behavior Specialist position.
The public can access the board meeting using this number: (US) 240-903-4200 PIN: 295 687 217, or using this link: meet.google.com/xuh–mpkf–hwf.
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.
