Barre Cuts $343,000 From FY2025 Budget to Fix Levy Miscalculation

BARRE — December 17, 2024 — Barre special town meeting cuts $343,000 from the current fiscal year budget after a levy miscalculation. Residents voted Tuesday to reduce six departmental line items — including $80,000 from roads and highway and $38,138 from the fire department — bringing the total operating appropriation down from $6,629,784.13 to $6,286,672.94. Town Administrator Dr. Marshall, who accepted personal responsibility for the overestimate, told voters that rejecting the cuts would leave the town unable to set a valid tax rate without a Proposition 2 and a half override ballot. Finance Committee Chair Dan Juel said open positions will go unfilled rather than cutting active staff. Voters also approved a $7,500 capital stabilization transfer for a DPW snowplow and a $26,000 transfer to close out a fire truck grant match, both without debate.