SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – South Burlington School Board approved a second budget at their meeting Wednesday night, after voters rejected the initial budget on Town Meeting Day.
South Burlington Superintendent Violet Nichols presented three options for potential new budgets.
The board passed the first and most expensive option – a more than 69 million dollar budget which proposes a 14.5% Increase in property taxes for homeowners – compared to the 71 million dollar budget and 22.5% Tax increase proposed to voters on Town Meeting Day.
The 40 percent budget decrease was made possible by the passing of a $2.7 million surplus assigned to the capitol reserve, which the board then put back into the budget.
But with the decrease, comes staffing cuts.
“I think being responsive to voters is critically important, and is highlighted by these dramatic decreases, but I think also saying this is going to critically impact our students and our staff,” South Burlington School District Superintendent Violet Nichols said.
Nichols said cuts will be weighed based on student needs and priorities, but could include things like reducing staffing in the arts and co-curriculars.
The school district will hope to have the budget up for community vote by April 4.