Town supported, state and federal government doubted
by Gina Campoli
CRAFTSBURY COMMON — Craftsbury’s Town Meeting voters can best be described as generous and understanding toward local institutions and officials with skepticism and concern expressed toward the state and federal governments.
All town appropriations passed, many unanimously. The town budget of $1,070,300, to be raised by taxes, passed 120 to 1. A new town truck (not to exceed $160,000 plus interest), money for the fire department ($70,000), and numerous other expenses related to recreation, maintenance of the Common and town cemeteries, the historical society, and both libraries passed with scarcely a no vote.
All of the requests from numerous non-profit organizations were also approved. This was after discussion regarding the need for more information on how the organizations specifically benefit town residents.
Select board member Alison Blaney, announced that for the 2026 budget, organizations would be asked to present a petition signed by 5 percent of the population supporting the appropriation request. This would only have to be done once to be valid for future years. If the amount of the request changes, a new petition will be required.
Representative Leanne Harple joined the meeting at 11:30 a.m. She serves on the state House Education Committee and promised to be a voice for her rural constituency as the Governor and the Legislature wrestle with school funding reform.
The Governor’s proposed school district consolidation plans and minimum class sizes, now before the legislature, would, as Craftsbury School Board chair Kasey Allen explained, “eliminate the Craftsbury School Board and the town’s local schools.” Craftsbury can’t meet any of the class size requirements even with student population numbers growing at the elementary and middle levels.
Representative Harple was asked by resident Anne Hanson how the state is preparing for expected federal funding disruptions. She explained that the specifics are a moving target. At the highest levels the state treasurer has appointed a committee to track funding impacts. The Governor is consulting with business leaders on the effects of tariffs on Canadian imports and the attorney general has joined other states in lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of federal funding program changes.
It was the first time town officials were elected by Australian ballot. There were no contested races. Bruce Urie was expected to prevail as select board chair.
Craftsbury School Board members Kasey Allen and Anna Schulz faced no opposition and were both unanimously re-elected from the floor.
The Craftsbury School budget passed 73 to 18 after over an hour of questions and comments by residents. Of greatest concern was the increase in Craftsbury’s contribution to the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union (OSSU) budget which rose 4.7 percent. OSSU Business Manager Annie Houston explained this was driven by revenue shortfalls caused by the ending of COVID era funding. Ms. Allen, the board chair, noted that both Craftsbury representatives on the OSSU Board voted against the OSSU budget but were outvoted by other OSSU board members.
The approved school budget, according to the school budget notes in the Town Report, means an $.082 increase over this year’s $1.98 Homestead Tax Rate or an estimated tax increase of $82.04 on $100,000 of assessed value.
Town residents were fed well with both a free pancake breakfast at Sterling College prior to the meeting, breakfast snacks during the morning prepared by nineth graders and a hot lunch served by high school students. The meeting, held in the Craftsbury Academy gym, began at 9a.m. and ended at 2:15 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch. It was a busy and long day of real democracy in action.
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