Woodstock will host Town Meeting Day on both Saturday, February 28th at 10am and Tuesday, March 3rd from 7am-7pm. We will vote on Articles 1-8 on Saturday on the floor; and Articles 9-25 via Australian ballot on Tuesday.

“Australian ballot” is just term for a secret ballot or paper ballot. 

These articles reflect the Town Warning, there will be a separate ballot for the school district.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to collect the Town General, Highway, School Taxes and State Education Taxes on real property and all other taxes levied through the Treasurer under the provisions of Title 32 VSA Chapter 133 and fix the dates of payments as November 6, 2026 and May 7, 2027 and to require payment to be received by the Town Office by close of business on those dates.

    This permits the town to collect taxes due twice a year (11/6/26 and 5/7/27).

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to pay the Town Officers in accordance with Title 24 VSA, Section 932 as follows:

    Select Board $1,000.00 per year

    Town Treasurer $14,000.00 per year

    Constable $25.76 per hour

    Town Clerk $37.63 per hour

    Moderator $100.00 each time serves

    This permits the town to pay our elected officials. 

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of Eight Million Eight Hundred Forty Two Thousand Nine Hundred Forty Dollars and Forty One cents ($8,842,940.41) which includes the specified sums of money to operate each department; and to raise by taxation the amount up to Seven Million Two Hundred Four Thousand Two Hundred Thirty Dollars and Forty cents ($7,204,230.40) which is the necessary sum to defray operating costs for FY 2026-2027.

    Culture and Recreation $468,500

    Town Hall Building $172,738.56

    General Government $1,402,107.03

    Community Development & Planning $174,865.44

    Town Clerk $199,732.84

    Town Highways $2,287,892.79

    Cemetery Maintenance $28,000

    Sanitation $27,045

    Welcome Center $90,530.54

    Ambulance/Fire Department $2,374,349.42

    Health Officer $2,350

    Communications – Dispatch $621,660.00

    Constable $10,850

    Town Police $487,468.79

    Select Board Contingency $442,250.00

    Irene Bond $52,600

    Total $8,842,940.41

    This article is to approve the budget presented for FY27. This amount increases the property tax rate by ~7.8%. Here’s a link to the budgets and the public meetings where the boards discussed the budgets.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of One Million Five Hundred Seventy Four thousand Six Hundred Fifteen Dollars and Twenty Three Cents ($1,574,615.23), which includes up to One Million Five Hundred Twenty Six thousand Seven Hundred Sixty Five Dollars and Twenty-Three Cents (1,526,765.23) and up to Forty Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Dollars ($47,850) from other revenues, to pay the current expenses and debt of the sewer department for FY27 spanning July 1st 2026 through June 30th 2027.

    This permits the town to pay for the ongoing operations of the sewer department with user fees, interest, and late payment fees.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of Nine Hundred Thousand One Hundred Thirteen Dollars and Twenty Two Cents ($900,113.22), which includes up to Nine Hundred Thousand One Hundred Thirteen Dollars and Twenty Two cents ($900,113.22) from user fees, connection fees and other revenue sources, to pay the current expenses and debt of the water department for FY27 spanning July 1st 2026 through June 30th 2027.

    This permits the town to pay for the operations of the water department with user fees, interest, and late payment fees.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of Nine Hundred Dollars ($900) and pay each of the Trustees Three Hundred Dollars ($300) for the purpose of paying the Trustees of Public Funds for services rendered and approve the expenditure from the income of the Trust Funds for that purpose.

    This permits the Town to pay the Trustees of the Public Funds a stipend that comes out of the trust funds they manage. The Town controls a number of public trust funds, whose benefactors wanted them to be managed by elected officials and not employees of the town. These are charitable funds for scholarships, maintaining cemeteries, etc.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500) for the purpose of having the Public Trust Funds audited and approve the expenditure of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500) from income of the Trust Funds to pay for the Annual Audit.

    This permits the Town to pay for the Public Trust Funds to be audited. The cost is taken out of the income of the trust funds.

  • To entertain the discussion of any other business of interest to the legal voters, such discussion shall not be construed in any manner as binding Municipal Action.

    This is an opportunity for any resident to bring any business before the Town before Town Meeting concludes.

The following articles will be voted on by Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 3rd.

Two housekeeping notes:

  • While the articles use the word “appropriate” they should read “raise and appropriate” since the funds do not exist in the budget, they need to be raised by property taxes.

  • If all of the petitioned articles were to be passed, Woodstock would need to raise an additional $230,717 through property taxes. This translates to an additional ~3.45% increase to the tax rate. (This does not include the property tax exemption for the library’s parking lot).

  • The election of Town Officers for the ensuing year as required by law including:

    Select Board (3-year term)

    Select Board (2-year term)

    Select Board (1-year term)

    Town Clerk (3-year term)

    Treasurer (3-year term)

    Moderator (1-year term)

    Cemetery Commissioner (3-year term)

    Cemetery Commissioner (2-year term)

    Trustee of Public Funds (3-year term)

    Trustee of Public Funds (1-year term)

    Grand Juror (1-year term)

    First Constable (1-year term)

    Town Agent (1-year term)

    This is to vote for elected positions.

  • Shall general obligation bonds, notes or other debt obligations of the Town of Woodstock in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed Thirty-Five Million Dollars ($35,000,000.00), subject to reduction from the receipt of available state and federal grants-in-aid and other financial assistance, be issued to finance the cost of maintaining and upgrading the Woodstock Main Wastewater Treatment Facility, the total estimated cost of which is Thirty Four Million Two Hundred Sixty One Thousand One Hundred Eighty Eight and 00/100 Dollars ($34,261,188.00) and includes the construction of new (i) biological treatment process tanks and building, (ii) headworks, (iii) dewatering facilities, and (iv) ultraviolet disinfection system, with the expectation, but not guarantee, that 100% of the annual debt service will be paid from sewer user fees and other town resources (including but not limited to the Local Option Tax).

    This article allows the Town to take on debt (bond) for the upgrades and renovations to the Main Wastewater Treatment Plant, which total $35M. The bond will be paid for by sewer users, and is subject to reduction by other revenues like grants (like CDS) and local options tax revenue. Here is the website detailing the upgrades and renovations.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of Fifty One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($51,250) for the Norman Williams Public Library to help support the operations and maintenance of the library.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $51,250 to support the Norman Williams Public Library. This is in addition to the support they receive from the Town’s operating budget ($154,000).

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) for the Ottauquechee Health Foundation (OHF). OHF is a nonprofit community resource that provides funding and support for individuals with limited financial means to help meet critical health and wellness needs such as medical and dental care, eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, prescription co-payments and short term caregiver services.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $30,000 to support the Ottauquechee Health Foundation.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of $15,000 (Fifteen Thousand Dollars) to Woodstock Community Television (WCTV) to provide services to Woodstock Residents.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $15,000 to support Woodstock Community Television.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of $2,500 (two thousand five hundred dollars) to Windsor County Mentors for youth mentoring services.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $2,500 to support Windsor County Mentors.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of $1,000 (One Thousand Dollars) to Green Mountain RSVP of Windsor County, an AmeriCorps Seniors Program, to coordinate free-to-attend, volunteer led Bone Builders classes and connect people age 55 and older with volunteer opportunities, thereby reducing social isolation and improving health.

    This permits the town to raise an additional $1,000 to support Green Mountain RSVP & Volunteer Center of Windsor County.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate $7,000 (Seven Thousand Dollars) for Senior Solutions, the nonprofit area agency on aging serving Southeastern Vermont, to serve older Woodstock residents with nutrition and wellness programs, application assistance for state and federal benefit programs, Medicare enrollment guidance, long-term care Medicaid program care coordination, volunteer programs, and more.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $7,000 to support Senior Solutions.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of $3,000 (Three Thousand dollars) to Public Health Council of the Upper Valley to provide free regional flu vaccine clinics, ensure core public health services, like emergency preparedness, and addressing health disparities services to residents of the Town.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $3,000 to support the Public Health Council of the Upper Valley.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of $3,247 (Three Thousand Two Hundred Forty-Seven dollars) to Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS) to help support outpatient mental health and substance use services to Woodstock residents.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $3,247 to support Health and Rehabilitation Services.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of $8,000 (Eight Thousand dollars) to Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center to support the Community Care Coordinator position, an initiative dedicated to providing in-home care coordination for Woodstock area residents. This role will connect individuals and families with essential healthcare services and community resources, improve health outcomes, and reduce unnecessary hospital visits, ensuring the well-being of our most vulnerable neighbors.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $8,000 to support the Community Care position by Ascutney Hospital and Health Care. This position serves all towns in the MVSU district. It is currently filled by Carla Kamel.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($1,250) to support programming of the Spectrum Teen Center. Our objective is to engage teens in healthy activities and make youth feel supported, welcomed, and included. There is no charge to attend our program.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $1,250 to support the Spectrum Teen Center.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) for the support of The Family Place to provide services to residents of the Town.

    This permits the Town to raise taxes by an additional $3,000 to disburse to The Family Place.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of $42,000 (Forty-Two Thousand Dollars) for the support of Pentangle Arts, to provide services to residents of the Town.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $42,000 to support Pentangle Arts. This is in addition to what is received from the Town budget ($36,000).

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote either or both of the exemptions listed below for the parking lot of the Norman Williams Public Library for a period of 5 years.

    A) Exemption from all local property taxes including education, highway, and town general.

    B) Exemption from the educational property taxes and to raise by property taxation a sum of money to pay the exempted amount to the appropriate entity.

    This permits the town to exempt the Library from paying municipal property taxes as well as the state education taxes for their parking lot.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of $20,000 (Twenty Thousand Dollars) for the support of Woodstock Area Adult Day Services dba Scotland House Adult Day Care to provide services to residents of the Town.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $20,000 to support Scotland House Adult Day Care.

  • Shall the voters of Woodstock vote to appropriate the sum of Forty-Three Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($43,200), for the support of services of the Woodstock Area Council on Aging dba The Thompson Senior Center. The Thompson is an important community resource – providing daily meals, medical and area transportation, and an array of health, educational and social services that assist residents to age well.

    This permits the town to raise taxes by an additional $43,200 to support the Thompson Senior Center. This is in addition to what it receives from the Town budget ($11,000).