Town Meeting: Wheelock

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Created on Monday, 06 March 2023 15:36

Written by Christopher Bean

WHEELOCK -  Town meeting day on March 7, 2023, voters in Wheelock will decide on twenty-one agenda articles and two by Australian ballot. The general fund budget is decreasing by 3062 dollars or 1.6 percent from the 2022 budget. The two articles up for a vote by Australian Ballot are Article 18, which adopts flood hazard regulations adequate for acceptance into the National Flood Insurance Program, and Article 19 is for 215 thousand dollars in bonds or notes to purchase a new 10-wheel dump truck.

In last week's iinformational meeting on March 1st, there was a positive consensus on buying a new dump truck but varying opinions on the National Flood Insurance Program. When asked why the flood insurance program was voted by Australian ballot, Select Board Chair Ann Lawless said, "At last year's town meeting, the citizens petitioned to have a town vote instead of being adopted by the select board. The townspeople voted strongly in favor of that. So, this year we have the vote on the flood bylaw and the truck." Lawless also expressed that perhaps the town needed more outreach to the people living in the floodplain.

They will also be voting on the school budget for the Kingdom East Unified Union School District. The Kingdom East School District budget is increasing by over 3 million dollars, an 8.12% increase to $41,069,545 for the fiscal year 2024. The budget increase is due to the district's anticipating a 7.94% increase per equalized pupil. The school budget and Australian ballot vote are Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at Wheelock Town Hall from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The Town Meeting from the floor is Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at Wheelock Town Hall starting at 9:00 AM.