Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1920-02-18
THE SMALL TOWN PROBLEM

THE SMALL TOWN PROBLEM
The problems surrounding the ,
somewhat startling financial status of /
many of Vermont's small towns is
bringing out much comment tending
to suggest remedial measures. Town
consolidation has been mentioned.
Making state charges of small towns
has been suggested. Economy has
been talked. But to this paper none
of the suggestions touch bottom.
Consolidation cannot by any means
give equitable division of the burden.
To make small towns here and there
charges of the state would give such
towns a cumbersome government and
add to the states burden, which bur
den, in the end, must be borne by the
people generally, but our people
would. under this method, have no
special pride or interest in their
charges; besides towns so governed
would have no incentive for local eff
fort. Economy alone cannot give a
town that which it does not possess.
a somewhat careful study of the
problem influences this paper to sug-
gest an entirely different plan, as
holding a possible solution. Consti-
tutional changes and, other changes
which at first may seem revolutionary
would be necessary, but the time lock
is set for use by the next legislature
and some of the matters involved in
the necessary change for adoption of
the plan, should come into being re-
CARELESS of this special plan.
The scheme involves a larger tax
unit, probably the county, with a
property valuation equalization board
and distribution of taxes back over
the unit upon a definite basis OF
needs. Each town may maintain its
territory unimpaired under thi.
scheme, may even maintain its town
organization, though that organiza
ton in every town might be abridged
IN its authority. Centralized author
ity may be given as seems wise, will
the town officers acting in an advisor!
Some of the reasons for reaching
this conclusion come from the stud,
of Orleans county. Newport Zig
ures taken before Newport became
city,, Barton, Troy and Derby con
tanned $40 of the taxable propert,
In Orleans county, when the stud.
was made. The other Ia towns there
fore contained less than 400 of tn
taxable property in Orleans county
but have 1870 of the road mileage o
the county. Now then, if like la
raised throughout the county on prop
erty valuations equalized by board
and the money raised for roads ex
pended on our highways according t
selected road mileage, first; connect
ing roads, second; and strictly rura
highways, third, would not the who'll
scheme be more just, equitable an
satisfactory to all concerned thai
the present plan? Connected wit
this plan should be a central roa
authority, but the town road mer
elected as they now are, acting as
county advisory board with tive
thirds vote required to veto action O
the centralized authority. Would nc
this plan find favor with rural town
who find themselves hopelessly In
yolved, yet where the town unit is
sacred thing? And would any cen
tralized authority be justified in do
ing road work which could not b
shown to representatives of two
thirds of the towns of the county t
be just and fair thing to do?
School money raised on the sam
basis as the road money could be re
distributed among the towns on tn
basis of the number of schools neces
sariiy maintained with the number o
pupils a factor to be considered. LIE
the towns elect school representa-
tive, or board, with veto powe
against a centralized authority.
The centralized authority NIGH
come by way of our present metho
of appointing a state road commits