Ruby McAdoo noted that the next step in the budget development process will be at the full WSESD Board meeting 12/16/25. Working with the Board Chair, the budget review will be earlier on the agenda to encourage public involvement. The Communications Committee will be spreading the word about this meeting.
Despite the weather conditions, the Brattleboro Selectboard went forth with their first meeting of December. Being a very long meeting, I decided to jump in somewhere around the time of the discussion of health care changes and voting on RTM, which appeared on the agenda for roughly 8:15, which was actually more like 9pm.
The board covered the DPW, Rec & Parks, Library and DID budget requests. Interestingly, they decided to hold public hearing to gather important feedback from the public about declaring an emergency and making it more difficult for social service and charitable use organizations to exist. This will be at a special meeting of the selectboard to be held December 22nd, overseen by Mr. Potter.
Frank Rucker reviewed the proposed budget summary (linked above). The percent change is currently at a 2% change. When developing a budget, meeting student needs as well as inflation rates are heavily considered in order to put forth a fiscally responsible budget.
Nancy Wiese shared information about the budget development for WRCC. She spoke to the challenge specific to WRCC; if a position is reduced, then a program is eliminated. Using carefully designed solutions, this year she is able to present a zero increase budget. This will not be sustainable in the future, but is the case this year. Currently the culinary program is being rebuilt and will be offered again next year.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will continue work on the FY27 budget at their first regular meeting in December. From the way it is scheduled, this could be a VERY long meeting. The agenda-setters have the final item beginning AFTER 10 PM, and we all know how good they are at estimating agenda starting times.
In addition to hearing from Rec & Parks, the Library, the downtown organization, and Public Works about their budgets for FY27, the board will take up the bigger items of a change of health care providers, a discussion of options for voting to end Representative Town meeting, a new potential zoning change to start controlling “social assistance or charitable services” through conditional use permits, a monthly budget update, and anything else the public wants to bring up during public participation.
The Windham Southeast School District Finance Committee Meetingwill meet Monday November 24, 2025 at 5:00pm in the WSESU James Kane Conference Room, 53 Green St. Brattleboro, VT, and remotely via Zoom.
The Brattleboro Selectboard was focused on budget and finance issues for most of their meeting. Near the beginning of the long meeting, they adopted a new solid waste plan, agreed to a contract with Casella for three years, and decided to add additional fees to the already-increased PAYT bag costs in an effort to help keep expenses down for some people in a program TBD.
Fireworks are expensive, but drones are even more expensive so Brattleboro will continue to pay for the joyful explosions upsetting pets and people with PTSD.
In the budget presentations, the police department made accusations against a selectboard member that they said accused the police department when asking questions at a recent meeting. And the fire department really wants a 42 hour work week and four platoons instead of the 56 hour week and three platoons they currently suffer under.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will be working on the budget at their next regular meeting. The Police and Fire departments are scheduled to present their FY27 requests. The Town will also adopt a new solid waste contract and program, raising your PAYT bag prices and having DPW expand to pick up compost.
The board will also discuss trespass warnings and fireworks, and you can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) is currently in the process of developing a budget that will be presented for vote at the WSESD Annual Meeting on March 17, 2026.
Suggestions for Community Engagement in the Budget Development Process:
Engage with School Administrators & Leadership Councils: The budget development process is underway in our district. Each administrator is developing their portion of the WSESD budget to reflect the values of their school and community. The Leadership Councils can be a place to engage with this work.
Attend Finance Committee Meetings: A critical part of the budget development process takes place in the review of the draft WSESD budget by the Finance Committee. Meetings are open to all to attend.
Superintendent Speno kicked off the start of the board’s budget season. He and the team have been meeting with individual principals and next week will work with the teams at BUHS and the WRCC. Draft budgets are expected to be ready to share by the end of the week.
Business Administrator Frank Rucker shared the calendar of the budget process as well as the Guiding Principles and Background Data for FY27 Budget Planning document. The WSESU is scheduled to meet next Wednesday for our first dedicated budget meeting.
The Windham Southeast School District Finance Committee will meet Monday November 17, 2025at 5:00pm WSESU James Kane Conference Room, 53 Green St. Brattleboro, VT and remotely via Zoom.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 6:15pm in the Brooks Memorial Library Main Room to hold a Budget Listening Session. Please note that there will be no Zoom component to this meeting. Directly after the conclusion of the Listening Session, the Board is expected to enter into executive session to discuss relations with employees, contracts, and public safety.
It was a lot of numbers at the first regular meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard for November. The first pass at a proposed FY27 budget gave us the number 4.4%, which is the amount property taxes might increase. It might go up more, though, warned the public.
There was a presentation about cost savings for the new solid waste plan. Those cost savings have a cost, however. PAYT bags are back and will be more expensive, plus the town will add staff and equipment to the DPW to pick up compost.
The board heard a monthly finance report and got a quarterly update and EMS Policy Billing review by the fire department.
Also, Brattleboro has a new annual circus festival underway. Get in touch with NECCA for more info!
Your Representative Town Meeting Finance Committee would like to alert you to the Selectboard’s second (and last planned) “listening session” to hear from the public as they begin the budget season for FY27. (The Town Manager’s budget message can be found, pp 42-60 in the packet for the Board’s 4 November meeting.)
The “listening session” at Brooks Memorial Library will begin at 6:15 pm on Wednesday 12 November.
The Brattleboro Selectboard has some typically hot-button issues on their next agenda – the solid waste contract, the FY27 budget, the quarterly fire department report, and EMS billings and collections.
You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
The Brattleboro Selectboard held a long regular meeting, learning about programs and opportunities with Interaction, hearing an update about BDCC/SeVEDS, and holding an extended conversation with state legislators about the Town’s legislative suggestions thought up by town staff.
Most interesting, beyond a hint that education taxes in Brattleboro could go way down, was talk of a new waterfront trail along the Connecticut River from the old Hinsdale bridge southward. Dreams of connecting this future trail to the West River Trail linger.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will again hold a meeting on a Tuesday evening, and they will discuss a new pedestrian and bike path being planned for along the Connecticut River.
They’ll also get annual updates from Interaction, and BDCC and SeVEDS. They’ll also learn about housing possibilities in town-owned properties and review their legislative priorities. You can bring up other items during public participation if they aren’t already on the agenda.
The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special regular meeting on Wednesday September 24, 2025 (NOT TUESDAY) to avoid interfere with Rosh Hashanah. At this meeting, they will approve an epic list of consent agenda items, then hear about changes to the parking system.
There will also be a public hearing about possibly replacing a bridge on Dettman Drive, decide on a process for warning all the various petitions and options. The board will hear from the Finance Committee, and appoint citizens to town committees. You can bring up other items not on the agenda during public participation.
Agenda
1. Approval of Minutes
2. FY26 Fiscal Year 1st quarter Financial Statement review
3. FY27 Preliminary Budget Development Planning Discussion
4. Recommendation to Board to Approve Warrants and Payrolls
The Human Services Review Committee is seeking applications from organizations focused on meeting concerns facing our community. Applications are due on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Representative Town Meeting established a grant allocation of up to $499,426 for Fiscal Year 2027. Grants will be disbursed in July 2026. The committee looks forward to learning of and supporting the programs that address the pressing needs of our community.
The Brattleboro Selectboard held their first regular meeting in over a month. Top issue was Groundworks, who came to give an overview of recent stats and projects. People seemed most interested in a new project to build 40 beds near Morningside, and safety issues.
The other big discussion was about possible changes to the Charter. The results of the 2.5 years of Charter Revision Commission meetings were somewhat enhanced and overshadowed by members of the public being confused, asking to slow down, wanting consideration of other options such as certified petitions, potential petitions, special and regular meetings, informational meetings, educational programs, and legal issues.
The board made the firm decision to wait until their next regular meeting, not the listening session, to decide whether to discuss putting it on an agenda at a meeting in October to consider holding a special election on November.
