BUCKLAND — Single-use plastic, marijuana and budgets are on the table at this year’s Annual Town Meeting.
The meeting is scheduled Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Mohawk Regional School District Auditorium.
First up, the town will tackle its operating budget, $4.4 million in fiscal 2020. This represents a 3.5 percent increase from the current year.
The proposed budget translates to a tax rate of $19.34 per $1,000 of valuation. Taxes have been on the rise in Buckland over the past decade. In fiscal 2019, the rate was $18.63 per $1,000 of valuation. In fiscal 2015 the rate was $16.80 per $1,000 of valuation, while fiscal 2010 saw a rate of $13.78 per $1,000.
Buckland is expected to take in nearly $4.9 million in revenue in fiscal 2020. The town revenue is made up of three revenue streams: property taxes, comprising 80 percent, plus state and aid and local receipts constitutes the remainder.
As in most local towns, education is Buckland’s largest expense, making up more than half of its operating budget. As proposed, $2.5 million or 57 percent of the budget will go to schools. The lion’s share will go to Mohawk Trail Regional School District’s operating budget: nearly $2.4 million, a jump of 3.1 percent. Mohawk’s capital contributions dropped 2 percent to roughly $80,000.
Franklin County Technical School’s operating costs are $111,000, up 7 percent or $7,200 from the current year. The school’s capital expenses are $7,029, up $1,229 or 21 percent.
According to the Finance Committee’s report, education costs have a significant impact on the town as minor changes can influence cuts or investments in services and infrastructure.
“Even modest variations in the dollar amount of the school assessments have a significant impact on the town’s total operating budget,” the report states.
Town operating costs add up to $1.8 million, a jump of nearly 3 percent. Proposed expenses are: elected officials, $51,055; Selectboard/Administrative Office, $110,578; reserve fund is budgeted at $22,000; assistant treasurer/collector, $63,235; Town Hall, $62,000; town clerk/election, $8,450; winter road salaries, $93,985; veterans services, $40,848; Recreation Department, $17,350; employee retirement costs, $118,560; post-employment benefits, $20,000; assessor’s revaluation, $16,000; and auditing, $24,300.
Aside from the budget, the town will weigh in on several other topics at Wednesday’s meeting. Among them is a proposed ban on single-use plastic. If passed, a new town bylaw would impose a total ban on all non-biodegradable single-use plastic.
While roughly 100 Massachusetts towns have imposed regulations on plastic bags, only about 30 have gone a step further to ban certain types of single-use plastic. If approved, Buckland would be among the first to place a total ban on single-use plastic.
The bylaw was conceived by Selectboard Chair Zachary Turner, 36, who won his seat two years ago. Turner says he was inspired to propose the ban after seeing plastic floating in the Deerfield River while he fished.
“Buckland’s not big, but somebody has to be the first one,” Turner previously said. “It is something I feel strong about. I’m not a quote unquote green person. I think that recycling is important. I think that we need to take care of the environment because we only get one shot at it.”
The bylaw has been enthusiastically embraced by the two other members of the board. Member Barry Del Castilho quipped: “I can’t believe I heard someone say ‘Buckland is stronger than Malibu.’”
The Planning Board has proposed a bylaw to place regulations on marijuana cultivation and production in Buckland.
The town does not currently have a local marijuana bylaw and is under the purview of state laws.
According to board Co-chair John Gould, the bylaw is the culmination of many public meetings and hearings, and seeks to represent the desires of all townspeople. Gould said the bylaw intends to provide some for residents concerned about property values decreasing as well as odor and noise, among other issues, as well as enable marijuana businesses to come to Buckland.
The Planning Board’s bylaw has received mixed reviews, with two Selectboard members voting to approve it and one opposed. Member Dena Willmore, who opposed the bylaw, called it “too restrictive.”
Also in opposition of the Planning Board’s bylaw is former member Clarissa Spawn, who has submitted a citizens petition with fewer restrictions, she said. Spawn’s petition will be voted on at a Special Town Meeting on a date yet to be determined.
Spawn called the bylaw “anti-farming and anti-small business,” saying that it will “drive away local farmers and entrepreneurs. She said the bylaw is too long with requirements so complex or costly they become prohibitive. For example, the bylaw bars marijuana farms from sitting within 500 feet of any existing education facility where students attend pre-school, kindergarten or grades one to 12. Also, the board’s bylaw requires farms have a 3.5-foot fence covering the diameter of the property, which Spawn sees as an expensive and difficult task. In comparison, Spawn’s proposed bylaw is one page with only a few restrictions.
■An article submitted by citizens petition seeks to impose a term limit of positions appointed by the Selectboard. Another would see if the town will support a state bill that would create a commission concerning the state flag and seal.
Reach Grace Bird at gbird@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 280.