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"One week from Tuesday, Vermont voters will take to the ballot box for Town Meeting Day. Ahead of that vote, Burlington city leaders took comments and answered questions about three budget-related ballot items -- Questions 2, 3 and 4.On the WPTZ App? Tap here to see the video.Ballot item No. 2 addresses the mayor\u2019s waterfront plan. The multi-million dollar project would mix public money through tax increment financing and private funding to renovate the Moran Plant. Tax increment financing allows cities to rebuild plighted neighborhoods without raising property taxes. The waterfront plan also calls for a new marina and park improvements.\u201CIt\u2019s an opportunity working with the state of Vermont to use these economic development dollars to make investments on the waterfront,\u201D said Mayor Miro Weinberger. \u201CIf we don't take advantage of this opportunity, we lose it.\u201DNot everyone is on board.\u201CI do not believe the city has shown much in the way of expertise of managing any project,\u201D said Ron Ruloff.Ballot item No. 3 would increase the general city tax rate by 3 percent. The general city tax rate makes up part of the city\u2019s overall property tax rate. A city charter-authorized tax increase would also take effect, making the estimated increase closer to 5 percent.The city estimates that would cost the average Burlington homeowner, with a home value of $219,000, an extra $81 a year.\u201CI don't think we can have a responsible budget that continues the current services that Burlingtonians expect without the increase this year,\u201D Weinberger said.The general city tax rate has not been increased since 2004.\u201CIt puts us in a place to be able to grow and prosper and again reduce costs down the road,\u201D said Burlington\u2019s Chief Administrative Officer Bob Rusten.Ballot item No. 4 would give the Burlington Electric Department approval to buy the Winooski One hydroelectric dam. It would provide power to 5,000 Burlington customers and make the city\u2019s electric department\u2019s portfolio about 30 percent renewable.\u201CIt\u2019s not going to raise rates,\u201D said Greg Roy. \u201CWe've already dumped money into this just through the arbitration process. If we take advantage of this now we save money.\u201DNot discussed Monday, the anticipated 10 percent tax rate increase for Burlington schools. That budget, totaling nearly $67 million, is larger than the city\u2019s general fund.Also on the ballot will be non-budget-related items, including three ballot questions regarding gun control and a fourth about ward redistricting."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.mynbc5.com/article/will-burlington-voters-approve-a-property-tax-hike/3314865>