BRIDPORT — Bridport residents at their town meeting will, among other things, decide whether to take out a five-year loan for up to $220,000 to buy a new Tandem dump truck.
Voters will also be asked to tax themselves a combined total of $1,081,259 to pay for highway and general fund services for fiscal year 2020. That $1.1 million request is the same tax levy as was approved by voters for the current fiscal year, according to Bridport Selectman David Bronson.
Article 33 on the town meeting warning asks if the town should continue to collect money through the sale of lots for care of the local cemetery. If so, voters will then be asked to allow to collect at a rate of 30-percent on lot sales in order to perpetually pay for cemetery maintenance — largely limited to mowing.
Residents decide whether to appropriate $12,500 for their local fire department, and to raise a combined total of around $45,000 for a variety of Addison County nonprofits that deliver services to Bridport residents.
There are no contested local elections in Bridport this year.
Those running unopposed include Tim Howlett, one year, as town moderator; Tim Howlett, two years, as selectman; Joan Huestis, three years, as selectwoman; Robert Coffey, three years, as auditor; Vicki Major, three years, as lister; Jim Craig, one year, as First Constable; Bruce Stocker, one year, as Second Constable; and Jim Craig, one year, as collector of delinquent taxes.
Bridport will, however, get to weigh in on a five-person race for three Middlebury seats on the Addison Central School District board. That race for the those three-year seats involves incumbents James Malcolm, Lorraine Gonzalez Morse, Steve Orzech, and challengers Betty Kafumbe and Ryan Torres.
Local voters will also cast ballots for ACSD board candidates Amy McGlashan and Mary Cullinane, running unopposed for three-year terms representing Ripton and Weybridge, respectively.
Proposed 2019-2020 spending for Bridport Central School will be reflected in a global Addison Central School District budget that voters will field on March 5. That budget proposal is for $37,794,916, to fund Middlebury union middle and high schools, the ACSD central office and the seven member elementary schools in Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham and Weybridge. The proposed ACSD budget reflects a 1.9-percent increase in local education spending and a 3.35-percent boost in spending per equalized pupil, compared to the current year.
If approved, the budget is expected to results in an education property tax rate of $1.5926 for Bridport, down slightly from $1.60, according to the ACSD’s fiscal year 2020 budget book.
Bridport town meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 5, at 10:30 a.m. in the local Masonic/community hall. Australian ballot voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the same date and at the same location.