Roxbury voters were clearly interested in the bottom line of Town and School budgets and carefully reviewed every article with financial implications. Voters rejected the proposed $419,677 budget for operation and maintance of town roads and considered a proposal for a $370,000 budget before settling on an interim figure of $390,360.

Adjustments were also made to the suggested appropriations to community organizations reducing the total from the requested $4307 to $4095. A proposal to contract highway enforcement with the Washington County Sheriff's Department for $3000 was defeated.

The request to raise the property tax exemption for qualifying disabled veterans from $20,000 to the statutory $40,000 limit was defeated. The proposed $1,679,249 school budget failed by 2 votes.

A proposed $4000 contract to conduct a Phase 1 study of educational options failed as well.

Operation and Maintenance of town Roads Budget- Tim Martin proposed an ammendment to reduce this budget to $370,000, a nearly $50,000 reduction. Mr.Martin said these are "tough times for everyone, we all have to cut back as people can't afford this. Ten years ago we had 2 full time road guys, than a part-timer was added and no we have 3 full time and 1 part-time." He suggested the cut he proposed could be reached by eliminating a full time position to save salary and benefits and hire a laid off truck driver to plow in the winter saying there were several available.

Board Chairman Frank Morgano responded that the board was trying to provide good road service at reasonable cost and if passed the amended number would "leave a big hole."

The likelihood of the road crew being unionized in the near future was voiced as a concern by a number of residents .Tim Martin said "this isn't about unions to me, paying $65,000 per man for salary and benefits and having three guys pushing lawn mowers in the summer says there's a lot of fat that needs to be dealy with." Board member Michael George in responding to a question of how the budget would be effected by unionization said he "expects costs will be a little higher for the town but employees will lose a little too' referring to payment of dues.

Resident Ed Pincus said the "board should be better prepared."

Board members ay they could cut a little. This meeting is a poor place to cut budgets. The board should do that'. Board Chairman Frank Morgano said "if the budget is cut we'll have to do it."

The board looked at every line in the budget and decided what should be done. Most lines were level funded (he said level funding pay for Town employees was an example) but that some costs aren't controllable by the board citing health insurance, repair, gravel charges as examples. Gerry D'Amico said "why bad mouth unions. Bargaining is a right labor fought hard for and won for workers years ago."

He briefly recounted American labor history of sweat shops, long hours, low wages, no benefits, child labor from the past that workers to what they have today ending with a comment to "stop bad mouthing the guys." His remarks pretty much ended further comment on unions.

John Dunfrey said "philosophically a cut is okay but I don't think cutting a job is the way out."

The amendment failed on a paper ballot 35 yes and 36 no.

John Abarth than moved an amendment for $390,360.

Asked what areas would likely be cut, Road Commissioner David McShane special projects would go, building repairs won't occur, vehicles life spans would be stretched, personnel would have to looked at but with unionization those areas would have to be negotiated including a suggestion to work 38 hours a week.

He said costs for gravel, sand, salt, chloride, repairs were beyond board control you just have to pay the price asked. He added that fuel prices are down now but nobody knows what will happen there in the future.

The amended budget of $390,360 was passed.

The Town Administrative budget of

asked. He added that fuel prices are down now but nobody knows what will happen there in the future.

The amended budget of $390,360 was passed.

The Town Administrative budget of $153,989 was passed unchanged 29 to 21.

Appropriations to community organizations set by the select board at $4307 was reduced from $6932 in 2008 following board review of each request according to select board member Michael George.

He said the board considered what the organizations do and what services they provide to Roxbury residents.

He added that personally he didnot believe this was the place for these organizations to fund raise as they are mandated to provide services and are supported financially by a mix of federal, state and private monies.

Board Chair Frank Morgano amended the article to drop the Central Vermont Community Action Council 's $300 request and add $75 for the Northern Vermont Resource Center.

David Santi requested that People's Health and Wellness be added for $100 noting that 11 Roxbury residents received services including him.

John Dunfrey asked that Green Mountain Transit be dropped because the service doesn't extend to Roxbury. Tom Frazier attempted to get an amendment returning the organizations support to the 2008 levels but that was defeated on a paper ballot.

Ultimately the list of approved organizations and amounts were: Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice $750, Central Vermont Community Action Council $300, Northfield Senior Center $100, Battered Women's Services and Shelters $100, Vermont Center for Independent Living $120, Roxbury Senior Center $2400, People's Health and Wellness $100, Northern Vermont Resource Center $75, Sexual Assault Crises Team $100, Green Up Vermont $50 for a total of $4095.

Voters approved $2000 for the Community Hall Capital Improvement Fund, $11000 for library operations, $14,495 for the Fire department, $7000 for the fire truck fund.

Highway Law Enforcement Contract- The board proposed a $3000 contract with the Washington County Sheriff's Department to provide highway law enforcement.

Asked why selectboard member Michael George said there have been resident complaints of speeding brought to the board in particular near a Sullivan Hill Road Day Care facility.

He said that the board has tried to deal with that issue with speed bumps which have since been removed. The Sheriff's contract would allow for speed enforcement there and at other trouble spots. He said the contract would not provide criminal law enforcement as that was a Vermont State Police responsibility in Roxbury.

He added that experience in other Towns with similar contracts have shown that the Town's share of fine monies covers and often exceeds the contract expense. David Santi argued against the contract saying that residents end up with the tickets.

A number of residents cited personal experiences and frustrations with not having State Police service mentioning snowmobiles and 4 wheelers on the road, a noise disturbances.

The contract proposal was defeated 35 to 27.

Veteran's Tax Exemption - The board responded to a resident request to raise the property tax exemption for qualifying veterans with 50 per cent or more disabilities from the current $20,000 to the statutory maximum of $40,000.

Board member Michael George said that there is a bill in Legislature this year that would lower the threshold to a 30 per cent disability.

Chairman Frank Morgano said that raising the limit would benefit about 6 people and cost other tax payers about a penny per $1000 valuation.

Chuck Slocum unsuccessfully attempted to have widows of qualifying veterans included.

Gerry D'Amico said that these types of issues were outside the scope of running a Town and were federal and state responsibilities.

The article was defeated and the $20,000 exemption remains in place.

School issues are voted on by Australian ballot and cannot be amended but could be discussed.

The school budget proposal of $1,679,249 was defeated by 2 votes, 87 to 89.

The proposal to conduct a contracted Phase 1 study of future educational options at a cost of $4000 was also defeated 78 yes 100 no.

The school asked to borrow up to $45,000 to install a required drinking water disinfection back up system in the Elementary School. The request, which is expected to be reimbursed by the state passed 94 yes 81 no.