Voters approved a $2,122,025 town budget, discussed plans for a townwide property reappraisal and elected town officers during Fayston’s annual Town Meeting on March 3 at Fayston Elementary School.
A total of 84 residents participated in the floor meeting, with 234 Australian ballots cast overall from the town’s 1,181 registered voters – a turnout of about 20%. All warned articles passed.
Among the key measures was Article 1, which outlined plans to begin a townwide property reappraisal in 2027. The work will be conducted by an outside contractor at an estimated cost of $110,000. Officials said preliminary estimates suggest property values could double following the reappraisal. While municipal tax rates are expected to remain relatively stable due to the reappraisal, it could impact education tax rates which are calculated by the state based on school district spending and how closely a town’s Common Level of Appraisal (CLA) comes to 100% of fair market value. A reappraisal should bring Fayston very close to 100% (or more) of fair market value.
Article 1 also noted that the town is awaiting reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for road work completed after flooding, including bridge and culvert replacements and other repairs. Those funds have not yet been received.
Voters approved Article 15 following a line-by-line review of the proposed municipal budget, setting town spending at $1,843,877.08.
At the beginning of the meeting, elections were held from the floor. Rick Rayfield was elected to a one-year term as town moderator. Madison Vasseur was reelected to a three-year term as town clerk. Sarah Stavraky was reelected to three-year terms as town treasurer and as delinquent tax collector for a one-year term. Mike Jordan was reelected to a three-year term on the select board.
The town is seeking a candidate to fill a three-year term as lister. No nominee came forward at Town Meeting, and Article 7 was passed over. The position is paid, and interested residents are encouraged to contact Doug Mosle.
In school-related voting conducted by Australian ballot, 234 ballots were cast on the Harwood Unified Union School District budget. Ballots were sent to Brookside Elementary School to be co-mingled with other district towns.
For school board, Karl Naden won a one-year seat as a write-in candidate, filling the remainder of a three-year term ending in 2027, with 47 write-in votes out of 217 ballots cast. Langford Davidson won a two-year seat to fill a term ending in 2028, with 226 ballots cast.
Results for the Central Vermont Career Center budget will be announced later this week after ballots are combined with those from 18 other towns in the district.
State reps. Candice White and Dara Torre addressed voters to outline their legislative work.
The meeting opened with remarks from Charles Martel, who shared a brief history of the town and encouraged residents to participate in reorganizing the Fayston Historical Society. He invited those interested to contact Patti Lewis. The gathering included a reading of the names of residents who died in the past year, followed by a moment of silence.
Following adjournment, residents shared a community potluck at the school.
Citizen journalist Annemarie Furey covered Town Meeting for The Valley Reporter this year
