Cities and towns in Vermont say Washington needs to deal with the coming fiscal cliff quickly because it could hurt their budgets and lead to another
recession.
Cash-strapped
town governments have often neglected taking care of their cemeteries, leaving them with overgrown lots and crumbling grave markers. Now,
one Chittenden County town is
using sheep and goats to maintain grass in its sacred public spaces.
Burlington
Mayor Miro Weinberger is already looking ahead to the November election, and has
proposed ballot items to essentially refinance the city’s debt.
As Vermont cities and towns continue to borrow money at a swift
pace in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, the state treasurer is defending the increase in
municipal bonds.
The Vermont
Supreme Court has sided with the city of St. Albans in a dispute with the Franklin County sheriff. The court rejected
the sheriff’s argument that the bidding process for providing law enforcement
in St. Albans was so unfair that it killed any competition.
The
Vermont
League of Cities and Towns says the dire financial situation facing other
municipalities elsewhere isn’t so dire in the Green Mountain State.
It’s that time of year when Vermont cities and towns are setting their tax
rates, and select board and city council minutes show many have increased them slightly as they enter the 2013 fiscal year.