Barre Select Board Sets Single Tax Rate, Rejects Three Exemptions for FY19

BARRE -- November 5, 2018, Barre Select Board voted unanimously to adopt a single property tax rate for fiscal year 2019, rejecting three optional exemptions on advice of the Board of Assessors. The board declined the open space discount, residential exemption, and small commercial exemption in succession, with members noting that the commercial exemption would have benefited property owners rather than the roughly 75 small businesses operating in town. The board also appointed Kristen Shepherdson, Becky L'Aventure, and Charlie Chase to the Open Space and Recreation Committee and approved the Lions Club Christmas parade route along Ruggles Lane, Broad Street, and South Street. Police Chief Steve Kappes reported the department is negotiating a subscription-based Taser contract covering five to eight units, and the Council on Aging's director presented a proposal to switch from the existing elder bus service to MART, a move requiring Town Meeting approval and state Department of Transportation sign-off. A board member noted the town's annual cherry sheet assessment for MART membership is approximately $10,000.