Waste water
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Experts recommend Crown Road site for upgrade
CVU boys’ basketball advances to Division I championship
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Volume 52 Number 10
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Shelburne adopts local option tax, budget passes
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March 9, 2023
Democracy in action
Candidates win uncontested selectboard, school board races 18 at Village Wine and Coffee, I have to oppose this tax with a resounding no. In the current At Shelburne’s 235th Town economic state of inflation, Meeting Day, voters approved expensive fuel costs and climate an amendment to the town char- challenges we are dealing with ter to allow the town to adopt a 1 price increases that are changing percent local option tax on sales, customers’ buying habits. Now is not the time to meals and alcobe adding to holic beverages. “I think people the burden of The campaign consumers or for the local coming in to retailers. Please option tax, aggresvote no to a sively lobbied for purchase stuff from local options by selectboard us won’t notice that tax.” members, hinged Other busion the notion of 1 percent tax.” ness owners Shelburne as a have no probtourist destination and that the pres— Ken Albert lem with the tax. sure on taxpayers Shelburne Vineyard owner could be alleviated by diversifyKen Albert said, “I think people ing revenue streams. Although the vote was 838 to coming in to purchase stuff from 593, some business owners vehe- us won’t notice that 1 percent tax. mently opposed the vote. Kevin When this started to be discussed, Clayton said last week, “As a I went and asked a lot of people in merchant who has been serv- the retail area in other towns that ing Shelburne in different retail had the tax and virtually no one capacities for the past 37 years, said that it was a factor at all.” With many residents wonder19 at Shelburne Supermarket and LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
Three members of the Shelburne Selectboard, from right, Kate Lalley, Matt Wormser and Luce Hillman listen at Monday’s informational session for town meeting.
ing where the money will be spent, the selectboard has already adopted a policy to ensure that “revenue derived from local option taxes be dedicated to capital expenditures/projects, debt reduction, reserve funds for future capital projects, repairs or other emergency needs related to disaster as declared by the
selectboard or federal agencies, and land conservation/open space protection for the creation and or/ utilization of public space.” The levy is administered by the state, which keeps 30 percent of taxes collected, remitting 70 percent to the town. The town’s finance committee has projected it could generate $939,961 in
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local option tax revenues. “Just like sales tax now, collections will be able to be processed and the money comes back to the town,” Don Porter, chair of the town’s finance committee, told the Shelburne News in November. “It’s a quarter delayed, so the See TOWN MEETING DAY on page 10
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