At Town Meeting on March 3, voters in Moretown will be asked to approve a budget of $1,878,380, which is less than the town’s actual 2025 expenditures of $1,939,119. The proposed 2026 budget is up about 1% from the 2025 budgeted amount of $1,859,294.
Town office expenses this year come in at $51,640, down from last year’s budgeted $52,610 (actual $40,170). Town Hall expenses proposed at $15,800, up from last year’s budgeted $13,243, but down from actual expenses of $36, 247. The budget shows that last year the town spent $24,858 in unbudgeted town hall restoration and planning.
Total expenses for the Moretown Library are up this year, due to $12,000 being added for building maintenance. This year’s proposed library budget is $62,100, up from last year’s $50,176.
Last year Moretown budgeted $20,000 for law enforcement but spent $12,846. This year the town is budgeting $12,000 for law enforcement.
Moretown’s general town expenses are proposed at $135,893 this year, down from last year’s budgeted $143,687 as well as actual of $198,805. Actual expenses were impacted by $11,048 in stormwater expenses (with only $1500 budgeted) and $20,000 for Mad River Park maintenance (with only $3000 budgeted).
Moretown pays fees for EMS coverage to the Mad River Valley Ambulance, Montpelier Ambulance and Waterbury Ambulance. This year’s fees are up slightly from 2025 fees with $23,855 for Montpelier Ambulance, $12,312 for Waterbury Ambulance and $6,000 for the Mad River Valley Ambulance Service.
Select Board expenses are proposed at $96,071 this year, down from last year’s budgeted $109,510 and actual expenses of $119,952. That reflects FEMA consultant expenses of $40,000 for 2026, which is down from $54,600 budgeted for 2025 and down further from actual 2025 FEMA consultant expenses of $62,195.
Moretown’s highway road crew expenses are proposed at $374,581 for 2026, up slightly from last year’s actual expenses of $371,927. Highway supplies, including sand and salt are up $12,500, coming in at $224,750 for 2026, from $212,250 budgeted for 2025.
Moretown’s town garage required $8,000-plus in maintenance last year with only $4,000 budgeted. This year, the town is budgeting $16,000 for town garage maintenance bringing 2026 costs to $43,500. Last year $22,500 was budgeted and actual was $30,578.
The budget calls for adding $10,000 to the town’s culvert fund and $10,000 to the town’s maintenance reserve fund and $225,000 to purchase a new loader for the highway department. Those items, as well as $125,000 for a new town truck, plus $18,000 for a blower for a town grader will be voted on by Australian ballot.
