Hartford approves local sales tax

HARTFORD — In Australian ballot voting Tuesday, voters approved a new 1% sales tax to offset municipal taxes and settled two contested Selectboard races.

The local option tax decision marked a reversal of last year’s rejection of a similar measure by 50 votes.

This year, voters approved it 848-699.

Selectboard Chairman Mike Hoyt joined candidates outside the Hartford High School polling place Tuesday afternoon to buttonhole voters about the tax. He said he believes it will benefit residents as a tool to increase municipal revenue.

The 1% local option tax on retail purchases does not require voter approval for expenditures. The wording of the article mandates that the revenue be “dedicated exclusively to offset Town municipal property tax rates,” according to the Town Meeting Warning.

“I hope people vote yes,” Hoyt said. “I believe it will provide property tax relief.”

But ahead of the vote, some residents expressed concern about the impact of the tax on local businesses and shoppers.

Speaking at the Town Meeting Deliberative Session last Saturday, Wilder resident Colin Butler was skeptical that the revenue from the tax would change the budgeting process and make a difference for taxpayers.

“I don’t see this reducing the tax rate,” he said in a recording of the meeting. Creating more revenue “doesn’t prevent the Selectboard from increasing spending.”

Also in ballot voting Tuesday, voters approved a town budget of $22.47 million, of which about $17.21 million is expected to come from taxes.

Hartford has had a room, lodging, and alcohol local option tax since 2014. To spend the revenue from this tax, the Selectboard must obtain voter approval for each purchase.

On Tuesday, voters approved $442,000 from the meals, lodging and alcohol tax revenue to purchase fire and public safety equipment and vehicles.

By a vote of 1,177 to 371, they authorized the town to purchase a police cruiser, a heavy pickup truck and a utility vehicle for the Parks and Recreation Department.

The revenue also funded the purchase of two trucks for the Department of Public Works and safety and extrication tools for the fire department.

Newcomers winSelectboard seats

The Selectboard results seem to mark a shift toward more members with progressive perspectives in a town with deep political divisions.

Incumbent Lannie Collins and challenger Patrick Danaher both fell short of securing seats. Both have advocated for reigning in spending and fiscal transparency. Collins has espoused “small town values” and he faced pushback last year for remarks that were seen as critical of a drag story event at Northern Stage. Danaher ran for the Windsor 6 State Representative as a Republican in 2024.

The newcomers to the board have articulated positions that are more supportive of social issues and addressing climate concerns.

Ashley Andreas has been a vocal supporter of Hartford’s welcoming ordinance, which limits the stent to which the town’s police and other employees may cooperate with immigration officials. She is also a past member of the town’s Energy Commission.

Erik Krauss is a past member and former chair of the Energy Commission and has stated his support for curbside recycling, making street patterns more conducive to bike travel, and other “green” initiatives.

Miranda Dupre is a community navigator for Vital Communities who helps advance home and business ownership among people of color in the Upper Valley. She said in a recent interview that her focus as a Selectboard member would be on building a stronger sense of community among Hartford residents.

Andreas said last month that she wants to find common ground among Hartford’s residents.

“There’s a perception that if you care about being more inclusive to people of color, you don’t care about wastewater facilities,” she said recently. “I think most people believe that we need all of these things to be happy and thriving.

In Tuesday’s three-way race for two spots on the Selectboard, Collins lost the seat he had held since 2021. Krauss took the most votes with 1,068, and Dupre came in second with 807.

Collins collected 721 votes.

Danaher lost his third attempt to earn a seat on the Selectboard to Andreas by a vote of 922-535. The two vied to complete the final year of the two-year term held by Susan Buckholz until her resignation in October.

In an uncontested race, Mary Erdei earned a two-year term on the selectboard.

The selectboard newcomers say they are eager to get to work.

“I’m feeling s o grateful and excited to serve our town,” Andreas said by email Wednesday.

Krauss, too, said that he is enthusiastic about working with his fellow board members.

“I’m optimistic that this Board and Town Manager, with trust and participation from the public, can make good decisions for the benefit of our constituents.”

School budget passes

On the school side, voters also approved a school budget of $55.1 million.

Jeremy Warren was unopposed for a two-year seat on the School Board and Cathy Lemire was elected as a write-in for a three-year seat on the School Board.

A resident of White River Junction, Lemire has four children in the school district and is “deeply invested in them having great schools,” she said.

She is especially concerned to ensure that Hartford maintains local control of is school district in the face of Gov. Phil Scott’s sweeping proposal for school consolidation.

Christina Dolan can be reached at cdolan@ vnews.com or 603-727-3208.

CORRECTION: In town meeting voting on Tuesday, Hartford approved a new local  option tax on retail sales by a vote of 848-699. A previous version of this story provided an incorrect tally of the vote.