Articles of note: New Hampshire’s open enrollment reaches its talons into the Rivendell Interstate School District, which comprises three Vermont towns, Fairlee, West Fairlee and Vershire, along with Orford. A warrant article would open the district’s schools, which include elementary schools in Fairlee and West Fairlee, to up to 10 students from other New Hampshire districts, while permitting no Rivendell students to leave the district.
Contested races: Only one of four seats on the Rivendell board is contested, with Lillian G. “Gay-C” Gahagan, of Fairlee, who was appointed to the lone at-large seat facing a challenge from Orford resident Cassia Smith. There are no candidates for a Vershire seat on the board, nor for district clerk or three auditor positions.
Budgets and spending articles: Voters will be asked to consider both a $16.6 million budget — up from the $15.8 million mark passed last year — and a request to apply $450,000 from the undesignated fund balance to reduce the tax impact. Even with the applied fund balance, residents of the three Vermont towns would see higher taxes. The owner of a $400,000 home in Fairlee would see an estimated increase of around $830. Those figures would be $940 in West Fairlee and $315 in Vershire. Most Vermont households pay their homestead taxes as a percentage of income. Orford residents would see a small decrease of around $44 on a $400,000 home.
When, where and how to vote: Rivendell voters will consider spending articles and public questions at a business meeting at 10 a.m. on March 21 at Rivendell Academy in Orford. The polls will be open for the election of district officers from 9:30 a.m. until half an hour after the close of the business meeting, also at Rivendell Academy.