Town Meeting Reimagined Update - August 3, 2025

The Town Meeting Reimagined taskforce is now planning the public input and review process for the FY2027 budget, to be voted by Australian Ballot in March of 2026. The taskforce aims to build on the success of the previous year’s process and improve the glitches. If anyone would like to join the taskforce, please reach out to either co-chair, David Barrington (david.barrington@uvm.edu) or Gaye Symington (gsym@together.net)

The motions passed in March 2024 continue to guide the work of the taskforce. With article V residents agreed to "adopt all budget articles by Australian Ballot with the Selectboard directed to hold a hybrid format budget review meeting to allow citizens to adjust the budget proposal.” Article VI included the same language for all public questions.

We have identified the dates for the three parts of this process. All three will take place at Mt Mansfield High School.

Please mark your calendars with these dates:

This is designed as a brainstorm meeting, as a chance for residents to understand the arc of the budget process, provide input as to their goals or particular interests. It’s also the best meeting for presenting ideas for issues to be considered as a public question. We hope to provide refreshments.

BUDGET REVIEW - Tuesday evening, January 20th, 6 to 9-ish pm

Officially, this is a Selectboard meeting, but it’s designed to look and feel like a moderated town meeting. Residents can take part in person or by Zoom. Participants will learn about the Selectboard’s DRAFT budget proposal and have the opportunity to ask questions, offer amendments, and to debate and vote on them. The town’s elected Moderator, assisted by a moderator for the on-line participants, will work to help voters express their desires in an amendment and will moderate the voting process. This process is getting a lot of attention in our taskforce planning because there were glitches last year.

We hope to arrange a community supper in advance of the January 20 meeting, starting at 5pm.

VOTE - Tuesday, March 3, 7am to 7pm

Those who vote will determine the final budget for the 2026 - 2027 budget year, which is called, Fiscal year 2027. Voters will also determine which public questions are approved.