VIENNA — The town is preparing for both a municipal election and Town Meeting in mid-March, with one incumbent running unopposed for a three-year term on the select board and a roughly $16,000 increase in the municipal budget.

The election is set for Friday, March 11, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Community Center on 16 Kimball Pond Road. Selectman Christopher Smith is running unopposed for a three-year term on the board.

The Town Meeting is set for 9 a.m. the following day, Saturday, March 12, at the same location.

The town’s proposed budget of $621,311 is $15,843 higher than the previously approved $605,468 budget.

Factors driving the increase, according to Smith, are $5,000 additions to the road paving account and road maintenance accounts. Both are budgeted at $80,000 while $75,000 was previously appropriated for the two accounts.

According to the warrant, $100,000 altogether is set aside for the paving account, with $80,000 appropriated and the remainder covered with the State Local Road Assistance Grant.

Advertisement

Money appropriated toward the town’s Waste Management Account also increased by $2,000 due to increased costs in picking up waste by the ton.

The town’s municipal revenue is estimated at $180,000, the same amount proposed for the previous budget.

Smith said he does not see the proposed budget having a significant impact on the town’s tax rate, which is currently $19.40 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Aside from the budget questions, the warrant also includes a question asking voters if they would let town officials negotiate one or more agreements for high-speed internet services in town, with any final agreements and funding needing to be approved at a special town meeting this summer.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.