Chelsea Town Meeting
New Way To Vote Appropriations
By Michelle Kennedy

The Chelsea Selectboard comes to Town Meeting this year confident that the town budget will be in a more comfortable range.

One significant change is the removal of the voted list of appropriations from the proposed budget. Because the amount of requests from a variety of public service organizations, such as the Visiting Nurse Alliance, Green Up Vermont and the Chelsea Family Center, has been steadily growing over the years and has caused a great deal of debate at publicly held budget meetings, the selectboard feels that the total amount that the variety of organizations request should not be included in the municipal budget.

Rather, the board feels that the town should vote individually on each organization’s request after a representative from the organization speaks at town meeting—and illustrates why their work is important to the town. If all of the organizations' requests are granted by the town (an amount of $13,230), they represent just over one cent on the tax rate.

Chelsea’s budget, this year, also includes a bond payment for the clarifier project that was voted in last year and restoration of the town hall was started. Except for roof repairs, most of the essential work has been completed.

Grant funds for the restoration have not yet been received. They will offset the higher-than-expected 2006 expenses.

Finding a site for the town garage continues to be a challenge, but an architectural study has been done and drawings will be available at town meeting.

While voters overwhelmingly defeated the notion of buying the late Putt Kennedy property last year (a house and small tract of land next to the school), debate about purchasing the creamery property continues.

In addition, Diane Stewart has offered to donate 10 acres of land to the town that could potentially provide a safer way for kids to walk from school to the Heath Field, without having to walk along the heavily-trafficked Route 110.

Selectman Dick Rogers will seek reëlection. Chelsea residents will also need to elect a lister, a public library trustee and a cemetery commissioner, in addition to several other positions.

Chelsea Public School

The Chelsea School Board will need two new members this year as long-time members David Mize and Rory Allen are each choosing to step down.

The 2007-08 budget for Chelsea school is down three percent from last year and sits at $3,109,012. Staff reductions are the main source of the reduced budget.

Positions in administration, support and one middle school classroom teacher were eliminated. The assistant principal has been reduced to a three-quarter time position, enabling him to teach a high school class. However, the high school is getting a new two-thirds math position, so that higher-level courses can be taught.

Although the budget is down this year, Principal Karl Stein projects a deficit of $45,000. He points out, though, that there was a $35,000 deficit projected for last year, but the school still ended up in the black with a $27,536 surplus.