Hot topic: Randolph voters will decide whether to allow cannabis dispensaries in town when the sale of recreational amounts of marijuana becomes legal in Vermont next year. A new state law requires towns to “opt in” if they want to have such shops.
Budget: Total General Fund spending is slated to increase by less than $6,000, to $3.26 million. Highway Fund spending is increasing by about $114,000, to $1.98 million. If all town spending is approved, the municipal tax rate is expected to increase by 3.7 cents per $100 of assessed value, to just under 83 cents.
On the school side, the Orange Southwest School District is seeking approval of a $21.1 million budget, or education spending of $17,718 per equalized pupil. The projected school tax rate in Randolph would increase by 7.7 cents per $100 of value, to $1.64.
Contested races: Selectboard members Perry Armstrong and Larry Satcowitz are unopposed for reelection. Town Clerk and Treasurer Joyce Mazzucco is retiring after more than 22 years in Town Hall. “It has been an honor to serve this wonderful community,” she wrote in the town report. “I hope the service I provided was in a manner that met your expectation and needs.”
Emery Mattheis, one of Mazzucco’s assistants, is running unopposed to succeed her.
When and where: Voting on the town warning and most school articles will take place by Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 2, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Town Hall. The Orange Southwest Unified Union School District will also have a floor meeting in the high school auditorium, accessible by phone or Google Meet, on Monday, March 1, at 6 p.m. for some housekeeping items.
— John P. Gregg