BUCKLAND — Although the town will not be facing a Proposition 2½ tax levy limit override at its May 4 annual town meeting, tax payers will see a 5 percent increase in taxes — a boost of $87 per $100,000 valuation for the budget year that begins in July.
The annual town meeting will be held in the Mohawk Trail Regional School auditorium on Wednesday, May 4, beginning at 7 p.m. A meeting to answer questions about the warrant will take place tonight, in the Town Hall.
“We have some significant ongoing expenses in the school budget, with an increase totaling $183,529 (an 8 ½ percent increase) in Buckland’s assessment for the Mohawk district, Franklin County Tech and Smith Vocational,” said the Finance Committee, in a budget statement Friday.
Buckland’s Vets Field, also known as Cricket Field, has been put up for sale by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and residents will be asked whether the town should buy the 3.25-acre playing fields for $100,000, with town officials to apply for grant money and donations to acquire the property.
The town’s operating budget saw a $3,289 decrease, a 3 percent reduction— mostly resulting from Highway Department cuts. This includes a $40,000 decrease in money that was to be used to repair Bray Road.
The capital budget increased by about 10 percent, or $22,998, and stabilization funding is up by $56,289 (up from zero last year).
The Finance Committee says the overall budget is increasing by $209,304, a 5 percent increase to $4.4 million.
By a narrow vote, the Finance Committee voted 2-3 against recommending approval of the town’s share of the Mohawk operating budget, which represents a 6 percent increase, or $120,529. In Shelburne, both the Finance Committee and Selectboard voted not to recommend the Mohawk budget at town meeting.
Voters will be asked to allow the Mohawk district borrow up to $295,292 for repairs to be made to teh Buckland Shelburne Elementary School. The cost to Buckland would be about $32,000 per year, over five years, and wouldn’t have an impact on the town budget until fiscal year 2018.
Another article seeks $60,000 to pay for tuition and transportation for new students to attend the Smith Vocational School in Northampton.
Residents will also be asked to establish a new “Farmer Series Pouring Brewery and Winery Permit and Permit Fee,” which would cost $500. The town has received an inquiry from a business that would like to establish a cider bar/tasting room on State Street. But the town needs to have the proper state permit before such a business can operate within the town borders.
Changes have been proposed for the Shelburne Falls Wastewater Treatment Facility Sewer Bylaws, including references to construction with lead joints and asbestos cement pipe.
A warrant article, submitted before the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. halted the Northeast Energy Direct pipeline that was to go through Franklin County, is a resolution for Buckland to join the Municipal Coalition Against the Pipeline (MCAP). With it comes a resolution to ban fracked gas pipelines and champion renewable energy.