Strafford — Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved an article opposing the NewVistas proposal to build a planned settlement in Strafford, Tunbridge, Royalton and Sharon.

But the somewhat lengthy discussion focused not on the merits of the development — sentiment was overwhelmingly against it — but on whether Town Meeting was the time and place to express opposition to the intentional community that some voters said could strain town roads, schools and government.

“This article is inappropriate,” resident Josh Kahan said from the floor. “This is not the forum to aggregate public opinion.” Town Meeting acts as a government body, Kahan argued, and government bodies should not criticize other people’s ideas or proposals. There will be “ample” opportunities in the future to weigh in on the project, he said.

Kahan’s remarks drew applause, but several residents disagreed with him, saying Town Meeting was exactly the time and place.

“I welcome this opportunity to vote as both public opinion and as a government body, which I don’t see as being separate,” Jim Schley said, a statement that also was met with applause.

The debate led Byron Breese to tweak the wording of the article so that it still expressed opposition to the development but made clear it was a statement of the majority of voters, not the town.

Voters defeated the amendment.

“We are not asking the Selectboard to take action. We are asking our opinion at Town Meeting, so it is very simple to me,” Anne Peyton said of the nonbinding article, which passed as written. Only a handful of discernible “nays” were heard among those inside the Strafford Town House.

Strafford voters also approved raising $997,750 in taxes, with a general fund budget of $495,300, a decrease of about $500 over last year’s approved spending, and a highway budget of about $1 million, a decrease of about $166,00.

Roz Finn asked the Selectboard why delinquent taxpayers were identified in the town report, noting that such people often were overwhelmed by circumstances and having their names published amounted to a public shaming. She urged town officials to end the practice.

Selectwoman Toni Pippy said Tuesday wasn’t the first time she had heard that concern and would take it into consideration.

Selectman Stephen Marx said he doesn’t have a problem with listing those who are behind on their taxes.

“I don’t think it is a shame thing,” Marx said. “But I think it will get some people to pay their taxes instead of not paying their taxes.”

The town tax rate hasn’t yet been set, but it is likely to stay about the same, at 68 cents per $100 of assessed value. The residential school property tax rate is also projected to remain flat at $1.55.

The Strafford School District meeting took place in the afternoon, and voters unanimously approved a $3.15 million school budget, an increase of about $18,500. Fewer voters attended the school meeting, but residents kept the board alert by asking several questions related to Act 46 and the supervisory union merger, which took effect in July.

Voters also approved putting surplus money from the 2015-16 school year into several reserve funds.

Voters re-elected School Board Chairman Erik Goodling and elected Meg Albee to fill the seat vacated by Erik Reimanis.

Voters also re-elected Brian Johnson to the Selectboard, and elected Kate Siepmann to succeed Brent Cadwell, who decided not to pursue another term.

Both ran unopposed.

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