Public meeting in Chester to address school funding, tax formulas

The Chester Select Board has invited Steve Jeffrey, executive director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, and James Knapp, director of the state’s Department of Property Valuation and Taxes, to address issues surrounding school funding and tax formulas, Chester town manager David Pisha said on Monday.

School funding and property tax formulas have flummoxed select boards around the state. Pisha said, “The Green Mountain school budget that was voted on was a 3 percent hike. How did it go up to 12.4 percent?” He was referring to the state-determined residential property tax increase.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday Aug. 20 at Chester Town Hall, 556 Elm St.  Pisha said state Sens. Dick McCormack and Alice Nitka have also been invited as has Alison DesLauriers of the GMUHS board. Also invited are the select boards from Rockingham, Springfield, Cavendish, Ludlow and Andover. It is also open to the public.

Pisha said he expects the presentations and question and answer session to take 1 1/2 to 2 hours, and that state “legislative policy would also likely be up for questioning. ”

Following the meeting will be the regular Chester Select Board meeting.

— Cynthia Prairie
©The Chester Telegraph — 2014