TOWN OF WEST WINDSOR

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

FOR CONSIDERATION OF A FISCAL YEAR CHANGE

When: Saturday, November 16, 2024

Where: Story Memorial Hall

Please read the letter below from the Selectboard to all West Windsor Voters. 

For the full Special Town Meeting warning, please click here.

Dear Residents of West Windsor,

We are writing to inform you of a Special Town Meeting that will be held on November 16 at 10:00 AM at Story Memorial Hall as warned in the October 10 edition of the Vermont Standard. The sole purpose of this meeting is to consider an important question: whether the Town should change its fiscal year. The Selectboard believes this matter requires careful consideration, and we strongly encourage your participation in the meeting.

Why Are We Proposing a Change?
As noted in the September 12 edition of the Vermont Standard, currently, the town budget in West Windsor is approved by voters at the Regular Town Meeting in March but takes effect starting the prior January 1 (i.e. prior to the vote at the March Town Meeting). This timing means that the Town begins incurring expenses before a budget is even approved. By shifting to a fiscal year that runs from July 1 to June 30, voters will have the opportunity to approve budgets before they are implemented, ensuring that no operating expenses are incurred without voter consent.

Furthermore, the July 1 to June 30 fiscal year is the more common fiscal year for towns in Vermont. According to a 2018 survey by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, 123 towns operate on this fiscal cycle, while only 63 use the calendar year. Aligning West Windsor’s fiscal year with the State of Vermont and most other towns will allow for better coordination of planning, especially in terms of school expenditures and capital projects. It will also allow for tax collection to begin earlier in the fiscal year, potentially reducing the need for borrowing to cover operating expenses.

This change will also enhance the efficiency of our financial operations. Auditors will have more time to perform their statutory duties, providing a more thorough review of the town’s accounts, and they will be able to prepare the town report earlier. Planning for highway maintenance costs within a single fiscal year will further simplify financial management.

Acknowledging the Challenges
Typically, the Selectboard would not make a major issue of what is, in many respects, a technical change. However, this shift will directly affect everyone’s tax bill, which is why it is important to take the time to explain the impact and seek your input. To facilitate the transition, we are recommending an 18-month budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This means that next year’s tax bills will reflect 1.5 times the usual amount, a temporary increase that we understand could be concerning for some residents.

To mitigate the impact, we propose spreading out tax payments to every six months rather than annually. This will allow for more frequent, smaller payments, making the transition more manageable for taxpayers.

We are holding this special town meeting now to avoid complications later. If we wait until the Regular Town Meeting in March, the Selectboard will have to prepare two separate budgets: one for the proposed fiscal year and another for the current calendar year (in the event the fiscal year change does not change). Addressing the issue now simplifies the process and provides a clear path forward for the Selectboard.

We encourage all residents to attend the Special Town Meeting on November 16 to discuss the implications of this change. Your input is critical to this decision, and we hope for a constructive discussion that addresses the concerns and needs of the entire West Windsor community.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Sincerely,
The West Windsor Selectboard