January 2010 Town Meeting

Happy New Year! The Jan 25th warrant is out and posted on the towns web site.

Last September, we approved a slight increase of the hotel tax for those hotels in Burlington. Estimates from the hotel tax increase will bring to the town an additional $250,000 per year. A revenue producing article that will be at Town Meeting in January is to increase the meal tax by 0.75%. This extra revenue will go directly to the town. The estimated additional revenue per year for the Town of Burlington is $500,000. These estimates hinge on the local economy. If hotel and restaurant usage remains the same, these estimates will hold true.

As you have probably read, our local state aid is down around $1.6 million. The Department of Revenue (DOR) is giving us the green light on these two revenue producing tax increases to help lessen the financial blow from the decrease in state aid. I supported both of these increases. I will ask as we move forward that this extra revenue be put in our stabilization account. Withdrawing money from this town stabilization account requires a 2/3 majority vote from Town Meeting. We need this money for many of our capital improvements and infrastructure needs.

Town Meeting Article 10 is the cemetery expansion. We will be able to increase our capacity by about 20 years on the two existing sites. This will be a costly construction project but I continue to believe we must provide burial space for our deceased residents. Many of our older population have already purchased cemetery lots years ago when they were available.

The transfer of the Wildwood property to the Recreation Department for ball fields is Article 13. The Recreation Dept was able to secure 56% reimbursement from a state grant for this project. Great job to that team.

The landlocked parcel is back in our local news or maybe it never left. This will be a campaign issue again for the upcoming Selectmen race in April. My position has been the same as it was as a Town Meeting member and now as a member of the Board of Selectmen. I do not wish to sell this property to private development. I felt the same way back when I was a town meeting when there was talk about selling of the Wildwood site by some local officials. I have a strong position on preserving our municipal property. Thank you again for supporting me as a member of the BOS and please don’t hesitate to call or email me about any of your local concerns.