The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-02-19
Problem of the Small To,Un
as to Schools, Roads, Etc

The problems surrounding the some
what 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. Econ
omv 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 cum
borsome government and add to the
states burden, which burden, 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 effort
Economy alone cannot give town that
which it does not possess.
| A somewhat careful study of the prob
lem influences this paper to suggest an
entirely different plan, as holding pos
| sible solution. Constitutional 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 regardless of this special plan
The scheme involves a larger tax unit
probably the county, with property
valuation equalization board and dis
ltribution of taxes back over the unit
Iupon a definite basis of needs. Each
town may maintain its territory unim
Ipaired under this scheme, may even main
tain its town organization, though thai
organization in every town might b.
abridged in its authority. Centralized
authority may be given as seems wise
/ with the town officers acting in an advi
sorry capacity and with veto powers
I Some of the reasons for reaching thi
| conclusion come from the study of Or
| leans county Newport Figures take
before Newport became city,, Barton
t Troy and Derby contained 81 per cent Q
the taxable property in Orleans county
, when the study was made. The othe
} II towns therefore contained less tina
G 40 per cent of the taxable property /
G Orleans county, but have 10 per cen
I of the road mileage of the county. Nov
c then. if like tax raised throughout tn
i county on property valuations equa
7 lied by board, and the money raise
a for roads expended on our highways az
1 cording to selected road mileage. first
u connecting roads, second; and strict
d rural highways, third. would not Il
! whole scheme be more just, equitable al
{ satisfactory to all concerned than Il
present plan? Connected with this pla
Q should be central road authority, bl
p the town road men, elected as they no
are, acting as a county advisory boar
with a two-thrds vote required to vet
action of the Capitalization authorit
Would not this plan find favor with rurt
towns who find themselves hopelessl
involved yet where the town unit is
sacred thing? And would any centralizt
authority be justified in doing road wol
which could not be shown to represent
tives of two thirds of the towns of Il
county to be a just and fair thing to d,
= School money raised on the same has
as the road money could be redistribut
among the towns on the basis of the nun
Der of schools necessarily maintain
with the number of pupils a factor to
considered. Let the towns elect a schc