Hot topic: One article on the school warrant this year asks whether to add fifth grade to Croydon Village School, giving students the option to either stay at the K-4 school for that grade or move to one of the other schools that accept Croydon students.
Budget: Voters will be asked to approve a $475,000 town budget, which is a decrease of around $11,000, or 2.3%, from the budget approved last year. On the school side, they’ll be asked to approve a $1.6 million operating budget, an increase of around $82,000, or 5%, from the budget approved last year.
Noteworthy articles: There are several big-ticket items for infrastructure repairs during this year’s Town Meeting. The first asks voters to approve a $325,000 bond to repave Loverin Hill Road. The town is also asking voters to approve using $63,000 to complete repairs on Pine Hill Road, though they estimate around $35,000 of that will come from grant money, while the rest will come from taxes.
Contested races: Two candidates are running for the town clerk/tax collector position: Kristi McKeon and Kimberly McKinney. The position has been held for years by Charleen Little. Other races, including for the School Board and Selectboard, are uncontested.
When and where: The first Town Meeting session will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at Croydon Town Hall, when voters can cast ballots for town and school officers. The second session will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 13, at Town Hall to vote on the budget and remaining town articles. It will be followed by the school meeting, which starts at 1 p.m.
— Anna Merriman