Town Meeting 2024

Wage increases send Claremont school budget higher

By PATRICK O’GRADY

CLAREMONT — Employee pay increases are among the drivers of a 3.2%, or $1.2 million, increase included in the budget voters will consider during the deliberative session of the Claremont School District on Saturday.The $39.6 million proposed budget...

Newport School District budget up less than 2% 

NEWPORT — Residents will have the opportunity to amend the School District’s proposed $22 million budget at Saturday’s deliberative session beginning at 9 a.m. at the Newport Middle High School.The budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1...

Mascoma school district budget up just over 3%

By LIZ SAUCHELLI

WEST CANAAN — Voters will have a chance to weigh in on the Mascoma Valley Regional School District’s proposed $32 million operating budget during a deliberative session this Saturday.The proposed 2024-2025 budget is around 3.2% higher than the current...

Norwich Selectboard seeks input into how to use $1.1 million surplus

By PATRICK ADRIAN

NORWICH — Having ratified a budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 last month, the Norwich Selectboard now needs to determine how to appropriate a $1.1 million surplus, with many funding needs to consider. The Selectboard will hold two meetings this...

Woodstock opts for Australian ballot voting for Town Meeting

By LIZ SAUCHELLI

WOODSTOCK — The town will conduct all of its Town Meeting business using Australian ballot voting this year.On Monday night, the Woodstock Selectboard voted to employ Act 1, a law that grants town governing bodies the “temporary authority” to change...

Hartford voters to decide on retail sales tax and tenant protections

By PATRICK ADRIAN

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Proposed revisions to the Hartford town charter would create a local sales tax on retail purchases and authorize the Selectboard to regulate the rental housing market — such as restrictions on tenant evictions or a cap on rent...

Proposed Newport school budget includes increase of less than 2%

By PATRICK O’GRADY

NEWPORT — The SAU 43 administration and Newport School Board will hold a public hearing Thursday on a proposed $22.12 million budget, which represents an increase of nearly 1.8%, or $403,000, from the current fiscal year.The board last week approved...

Proposed 7% increase to Lebanon school budget driven by health insurance and special education costs

By PATRICK ADRIAN

LEBANON — City schools are proposing a 7% increase in the operating budget for the next school year to cover the rising costs of special education and employee health insurance.The School Board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday to consider a...