Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, on assignment for the Winooski News
Tomorrow, March 4, Winooski residents will head to the polls and vote on a range of ballot measures, including proposed city and school budgets, a re-vote on the “just cause” eviction ordinance and a resolution condemning Israeli military occupation in Gaza.
The proposed 2026 Winooski city budget is roughly $11,300,000, with about $8,600,000 to be funded through property taxes. The city estimates a 3.99% increase in tax rate, adding around $125 a year in property taxes for the average priced home of about $450,000.
The proposed budget reflects rising operational and inflationary costs, according to Winooski Mayor Kristine Lott. The city isn’t directly adding new staff, programs or projects, she said.
“A significant portion of increases are benefits for existing staff,” Lott explained.
The mayor said an increase in spending for the regional bus service, Green Mountain Transit, is also reflected in the budget.
“GMT was using federal Covid relief money to fill funding shortfalls which have run out, and now they’re having to ask more from the town,” Lott said.
The city is also increasing its contribution to the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission. The organization plans to hire a full-time equity policy advisor who would facilitate programs in Winooski and other communities in the county. This position replaces a previous equity director role in Winooski.
“The director role was not sustainable, and we weren’t structured to where a full-time role would make sense,” Lott said. “This shared model is a more sustainable solution for that.”
Winooski residents are also set to vote on Article 4, a proposed charter amendment that would authorize the City Council to enact a “just cause” eviction ordinance, offering greater protections for tenants against unjustified evictions.
The proposed amendment outlines specific circumstances that would constitute “just cause” for eviction: a tenant’s material breach of a written rental agreement, violation of state statutes regulating tenant obligations, failure to pay rent, and failure to accept written, reasonable and good faith renewal terms.
The measure was previously approved by voters in 2023. It was put back on the ballot for good measures after a scheduling error affected the ballot process.
Adam Ranken, a Winooski resident for the past year, supports the article.
“I think that the cases for evictions are totally fair,” he said. “I mean, if someone fails to pay rent, they absolutely should be evicted.”
But Ranken also believes it’s important for Winooski to protect and inform residents when it comes to their rental rights, “especially in such an economically and socially diverse area where people may be first-time renters,” he added.
The amendment proposes exemptions for certain properties, such as owner-occupied duplexes and triplexes, units being withdrawn from the rental market for the owner or immediate family occupancy and properties requiring substantial renovations that preclude occupancy.
Article 5 on the ballot asks the voters to advise the mayor and city council to adopt a pledge that supports “freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people” and end all support for Israel’s “apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation.”
Under Vermont state law, voters can petition their local government to place certain measures on the ballot by gathering signatures from at least 5% of registered voters.
“The nonbinding petition is a way for folks to use their voice and share an opinion, but the city council is not bound to take any actions based on the vote,” Lott explained.
This amendment comes after a similar ballot question failed to make the Burlington ballot in 2024, receiving approximately 2,000 signatures. The Burlington City Council ultimately used its legal discretion not to put the measure on the ballot, with critics saying it would lead to increased divisiveness in the community.
In addition to electing school board members, Winooski voters will decide on the proposed fiscal year 2026 School Budget of around $33,300,000, a 4.13% increase from the previous year’s budget of approximately $32,000,000. Taxpayers would see a 1% decrease in the Homestead Education Tax rate under the proposed budget.