Seating Seton
Sampling soil
Shelburne Museum fleshes out its collection of early American art
New project helps Vermonters protect Lake Champlain water quality
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August 20, 2026
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Weekly news coverage for Charlotte and Hinesburg
thecitizenvt.com
Hinesburg sends local option tax back to the ballot
Amazing graze
BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER
petition with signatures from 1% of the town voter checklist. In Charlotte, this is where things got a little sticky — at least for House Rep. Chea Waters Evans, D-Charlotte,
Come November, Hinesburg residents will be asked to reconsider whether they would like to implement a local option tax. In 2024, Hinesburg voters rejected the extra 1% tax — three-quarters of which comes back to the town — but with mounting budget pressures, the selectboard is putting the matter back to residents. According to estimates from town manager Todd Odit, the tax could generate around $300,000 annually, potentially more. The town would use those funds to subsidize its budget and ease the burden on property taxes to maintain services. “I see it as property tax relief,” selectboard member Mike Loner said at a meeting in July. “Not special funds for special projects.” Through a local option tax, 1% gets added to the state’s existing taxes — 6% for sales and use, 9% for meals and rooms, 10% for alcohol — on purchases made
See ELECTION on page 15
See TAX on page 12
PHOTO BY SOPHIA BALUNEK
Horses, and a foal, at a farm along Greenbush Road enjoying lush summer grass in the sunshine.
Dems accuse local GOP of trying to ‘stack’ Nov. ballot LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
The coming elections for Charlotte’s justices of the peace have gotten political as concerns regarding election integrity on both sides of the political spectrum mount —
although for different reasons. A justice of the peace sits on the Board of Civil Authority and Board of Tax Abatement and serves in local government roles like solemnizing marriages, notarizing documents and, perhaps most important, overseeing elections. But what
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may be lesser known is exactly how these candidates get on the ballot. According to Vermont statutes, justice of the peace candidates are nominated by a local town caucus or party committee, while independent candidates just need to file a
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