Tag Archives: Chester

CHESTER
Town budget
$2,364,609.84, $63,404.93 or 2.76 percent more than this year’s budget of $2,301,204.91.
Budget increases were attributed to various projects.

Highway (capital reserve) budget
$517,582.52, $244,467 or 89.5 percent, more than this year’s budget of $273,115.52. Budget includes $105,467 for a new dump truck, $50,000 for a new pickup and equipment shed, $202,000 for an ambulance, $45,000 for a fire department equipment truck, $34,770 in bridge and culvert repairs, $11,000 for a cemetery shed, $6,000 for road signage, $33,345.52 in town facility upgrades and $30,000 for sidewalk engineering.

School budgets
Chester town school district: $227,657, $41,327 or 22.2 percent more than this year’s budget of $186,330. Budget increases were attributed to a projected increase in preschool students.

Chester/Andover school budget: $3,650,197, $78,728 or 2.2 percent decrease from this year’s budget $3,571,469.
Budget decreases were attributed to a shift of Title 1 education services as a result of Act 153. The costs are now reflected in the supervisory union budget.

Green Mountain Union High School budget: $5,557,720, $107,422 or 1.97 percent increase from this year’s budget of $5,450,298.
Budget increase were attributed to standard increases such as heat and oil, health insurance and teacher salaries. Vote is by Australian ballot.

River Valley Technical School budget: $3,098,310, $116,880 or 3.92 percent increase from this year’s budget of $2,981,430.
Budget increase were attributed to an increase in grants and funding for RVTC programs, according to RVTC Director Judith Pullinen. Vote is by Australian ballot.

Special articles
Shall the town of Chester urge the Vermont Congressional Delegation and U.S. Congress to propose a Constitutional amendment for the States’ consideration that money is not speech and corporations are not people under the U.S. Constitution, that the General Assembly of Vermont pass a similar resolution and the town of Chester sends its resolution to State and Federal legislators?

Shall the town of Chester declare our right to produce, process, sell and purchase local foods? In recognition of Vermont’s freedom and unity, we assert this vital right as the foundation of our local food sovereignty.

Contested races
Incumbents Tom Boch and Arnie Jonynas are facing challenger Kathy Pellett for two one-year seats on the Select Board.

Meeting location
Chester residents will gather for a floor meeting at Chester Town Hall, second floor, at 6 p.m. Monday to vote on money matters. Election of town officials and GMUHS and RVTC school budgets will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of Chester Town Hall.

Town website
www.chester.govoffice.com