Town Meeting Day Open Thread

You know, in case someone wants to talk about Town Meeting, which we don’t actually have in Burlington.

But, we do have an election on Town Meeting Day, and it’s a big one.  Four good, qualified candidates for mayor.  Instant run-off voting.  No one knows what the outcome will be.

I did not endorse any candidates this year.  I am trying to stay more neutral.  Feel free to hazard a guess, though.

Haik, who was the Burlington Election Super Blogger of the Year, does have endorsements.  Be sure to check it out.

I also have to note, there are three, count ‘em, three, monetary issues on the ballot for the schools.  Ballot items 1, 2, and 5.

1. APPROVAL OF SCHOOL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010
“Shall the voters support the School Department’s proposed $49,903,088 Act 68 locally adopted budget (School General Fund Budget) for Fiscal Year 2010 for current expenses and deficit retirement?”

2. APPROVAL OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
“Shall the City Council be authorized to issue general obligation bonds or notes in an amount not to exceed Nine Million Seven Hundred Thousand and 00/100 ($9,700,000) Dollars for the purpose of making capital improvements, including safety and infrastructure improvements, to City school facilities at the John J. Flynn, C. P Smith and Lawrence Barnes Elementary Schools?”
Total Estimated Project Costs: $9,700,000.00
City’s Share*: $9,700,000.00
*The City’s share shall be reduced by the amount of any financial aid received from the State of Vermont or other governmental source for this project. However, no such aid is presently committed.

5. CHARTER CHANGE – ANNUAL BORROWING AUTHORITY FOR SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
“Shall Section 62(f)(3) of the Burlington City Charter be amended to increase the annual borrowing authority for School Department working capital and capital improvements, additions and replacements from $750,000 to $2,000,000?”

That’s a $2,000,000 annual borrowing authority.  $2 Million.  Annual.  Borrowing.  Think about that.

In case you are wondering what it says in Section 62(f)(3),

The amortization of such borrowed funds shall be by means of an annual tax on the education grand list in an amount sufficient for this purpose, such tax to be in addition to the tax necessary to support the education spending portion of the annual budget of the school department.

Yes, I should have covered this earlier.

So, get on out there and vote.  I am sure many of you have already, since it is almost 9:oo.

And feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.