Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont internship program
BURLINGTON — City voters weighed a full ballot of spending and municipal issues during Town Meeting voting Tuesday. Community News Service reporters fanned out across city polling places to talk to voters about the items on the ballot. Here’s what voters had to say.
WARD 1: Burlingtonians speak on school board pay
Burlington residents voted in Ward 1 to approve whether or not school board members should be compensated $2,000 a year, in four installments of $500.
By contrast, city councilors in Burlington earn a $5,000 annual stipend for their service.
Tadhg Christiana, who was casting a ballot at Mater Christi School, voted against the measure.
“For the longest time, they were not compensated as a group. And what ended up happening is that a lot of local people in the community would serve,” Christiana said.
Another person at the polls said he supported the ballot measure because it could encourage more people to run for office.
— Melody Beckfield and Paul Krapf
WARD 4: Voters speak in favor of school budget
Burlington residents voting in Ward 4 arrived at the Elks Lodge on Tuesday morning to vote for a new school budget. The proposed $140.8 million proposal from the Burlington School District would increase education spending to about $15,775 per student, driven by rising healthcare costs, salary increases, inflation and the ongoing financial impact of the new Burlington High School.
Most voters said they viewed the budget as an investment rather than a burden. For longtime Burlington resident Amy Bielawski‑Branch, supporting the school budget is almost instinctive.
“I always support the school budget, because schools are really important,” she said.
Bielawski‑Branch, who moved to Vermont from Rochester, N.Y. decades ago, raised two children who attended Burlington schools from kindergarten through graduation. That experience, she said, shaped her trust in the district.
Katherine and Anthony Stamper took a similar stance on the issue.
“Oh, absolutely yes,” Katherine said when asked whether she supported the budget. “Towns that don’t pass school budgets, it’s truly stupid, because investing in children is investing in the future.”
Both first‑generation college graduates, the Stampers said they understand firsthand how education can transform a life. They’ve lived in Vermont for 40 years and in Burlington for the last decade and said strong schools are essential to a healthy community.
Katherine said that communities known for rejecting school budgets often see their property values decline.
“We would never consider buying a house there,” she said of those towns. “People don’t realize that when they don’t support good schools, they’re hurting themselves. It’s like shooting yourself in the foot.”
— Sadie Kinsey, Daniel O’Leary and Lyla Whitney
WARD 5: Split opinions on racial equity department
Ward 5 voters gathered at the Burlington Electric Department to consider a ballot item that would permanently establish the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in the city charter. The office was created in 2019 to advance social and racial justice in the city.
Daniel Martinez voiced his support for the ballot question.
“I’m looking forward to that being a formal department for the city rather than something that’s in the air every year,” he said.
Eileen Kristiansen said she voted against it.
“I honestly don’t think it will have any positive effect on the situations they’re trying to change,” she said. “I think it’s just going to cause further divisiveness.”
— Devon Barnes, Lucia Arlotto and Caroline Wade
WARD 6: Voters weigh in on police and fire tax increase
Burlington residents voted in Ward 6 on a 5-cent tax increase for the police and fire departments. After the Burlington City Council voted to significantly reduce the size of the police department in 2020, worsening concerns about drugs and homelessness pushed the issue back to voters. The city has since reinvested in public safety and requested the tax increase to cover the additional costs.
Alan Matson, an election official at the Edmunds Elementary School polling place, has lived in Burlington since 1996. Originally from Chicago, Matson voted yes on the tax, saying he’s concerned about challenges with homelessness and drug use downtown.
“If you compare it to 30 years ago, when there were practically zero issues of any sort, there is more concern about anything from substance use to people who are unhoused,” he said.
Garry Schaedel, a retired public health worker, said the issue weighs on him.
“I’m always concerned about property tax. Always,” he said. “I’m concerned, but I’m willing to swallow it because I think it’s good for the city.”
In contrast, Simon Rae, a third-year student at the University of Vermont, opposed the tax, citing high living costs and skepticism about directing more money to the police. Having lived off campus for a year, he described his experience renting in Burlington as “expensive” and said he feels the city is “fairly safe.”
Robin Fawcett, a local teacher, stated, “I think it is going to take all of us to make our city safer, it’s not just going to be the police.”
— Hayam Elazhary, Ezio Friedman and Mackenzie Royle
WARD 7: Voters pick sides in contested election
Harsh winds greeted Ward 7 voters at the Robert Miller Community and Recreation Center as they trekked inside to submit their ballots. Residents were welcomed by supporters of Democratic incumbent City Councilor Evan Litwin standing at the entrance, toting election signs and hand warmers.
Inside the Miller Center, election officials like Al Belluche try to make the polling stations welcoming for everyone.
“You can have any political views you like, it doesn’t matter. Our main job is to make everyone feel welcome to submit their ballots,” he said.
Belluche’s philosophy rang true, as people of all kinds stopped by to participate in the election.
Litwin supporter Muffie Milens, a longtime resident of Burlington, said candidates should focus on the city and not anywhere else. She denounced Litwin’s Progressive opponent, Bill Standen, who supported placing an “apartheid-free community” pledge on the ballot. Councilors ultimately blocked the measure from going to voters.
“Our focus should be on Burlington, not overseas,” Milens said.
Another resident, Dave Holden, also voiced his support for Litwin despite describing himself as a Republican.
“I usually don’t vote in these things, but I decided I might as well, and the next best thing was Evan Litwin,” he said.
Holden said he was unaware of Standen. Other attendees shared the same sentiment.
“I don’t know who else is out there,” Holden said when asked on whether he thinks Litwin is the better option of the two.
— Andreas Cox and Charlie Morrisroe
WARD 8: Ryan Nick and Marek Broderick face off for city council seat
Ryan Nick is challenging incumbent City Councilor Marek Broderick for his seat on the Burlington City Council. Broderick is seeking reelection as a Progressive, and Nick is running as the Democratic candidate.
Both candidates have focused on housing in their campaigns and have proposed different means to build more of it. Nick, who works in commercial real estate, has suggested the city look into more public-private partnerships. Broderick, who’s pursuing a degree at the University of Vermont, wants the city to invest more in its Housing Trust Fund, which supports affordable housing projects.
Kay Emerson, a UVM student voting at Fletcher Free Library, said she voted for Broderick.
“I really appreciated that he is focusing a lot on both ‘ICE Out’ of Burlington, as well as on the housing crisis,” she said. “I’m hoping that because he is still affiliated with UVM, like he knows the struggle of finding housing, and that will lead him to somewhat more of a solution, but we haven’t seen it yet.”
Michaéla Finneran, vice-chair of the Burlington Democratic Party, stood outside the polling place with a sign in support of Nick.
She said she appreciates Nick’s commitment to making downtown safer and his contributions to the community as a longtime Burlington resident. She said there wasn’t a big difference in the platform between the two candidates’ parties.
“In Burlington, we act like there’s this big difference between Democrats and Progressives, but if you go and watch city council, Democrats and Progressives agree with each other on, like, 9.5 out of 10 issues,” she said.
— Luke Zaki, Nene Pataridze and Kendall Davis-Swing