Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Timeline and Process
Where are we now?
The current governance structure we have now is two separate municipalities with separate charters, sharing some municipal services under contract. The Village of Essex Junction is an incorporated municipality within the municipality of the Town of Essex. Click here to read a brief history on the home page.
The current governance structure we have now is two separate municipalities with separate charters, sharing some municipal services under contract. The Village of Essex Junction is an incorporated municipality within the municipality of the Town of Essex. Click here to read a brief history on the home page.
Why are we doing this now?
To understand why merger talks are happening now, we need to look several years into the past. In an effort to improve services across the entire Essex community, the Town of Essex and Village of Essex Junction have, since 2013, consolidated some of the municipal services that were historically provided by both governments. As an additional benefit, these consolidations have reduced the amount of taxes the municipalities need to raise – a combined savings of more than $2.1 million since 2013.
To continue consolidation efforts, the Town of Essex Selectboard and the Village of Essex Junction Board of Trustees have met jointly for the past few years. Joint meetings in the last several months have been about preparing for a dialogue with the Greater Essex community regarding our consolidation efforts going forward. In June 2018 both boards created a joint Governance Subcommittee tasked with researching potential new governance structures. In December, after researching and vetting over a dozen possibilities, the subcommittee recommended looking at three governance frameworks: one government with one tax rate; one government with special taxing districts; and the status quo with a Town government, a Village government, and different tax rates. The governance framework options also include models for at-large representation, or representation by wards. Residents will have an opportunity to weigh in on the options through surveys and focus groups during the summer of 2019 and then later through other outreach efforts.
Each year that passes increases the cost of merging. Although consolidation efforts lowered the cost since the 2006/2007 vote, as long as Village taxes continue to increase, the tax impact of merger on residents outside the Village grows.
To understand why merger talks are happening now, we need to look several years into the past. In an effort to improve services across the entire Essex community, the Town of Essex and Village of Essex Junction have, since 2013, consolidated some of the municipal services that were historically provided by both governments. As an additional benefit, these consolidations have reduced the amount of taxes the municipalities need to raise – a combined savings of more than $2.1 million since 2013.
To continue consolidation efforts, the Town of Essex Selectboard and the Village of Essex Junction Board of Trustees have met jointly for the past few years. Joint meetings in the last several months have been about preparing for a dialogue with the Greater Essex community regarding our consolidation efforts going forward. In June 2018 both boards created a joint Governance Subcommittee tasked with researching potential new governance structures. In December, after researching and vetting over a dozen possibilities, the subcommittee recommended looking at three governance frameworks: one government with one tax rate; one government with special taxing districts; and the status quo with a Town government, a Village government, and different tax rates. The governance framework options also include models for at-large representation, or representation by wards. Residents will have an opportunity to weigh in on the options through surveys and focus groups during the summer of 2019 and then later through other outreach efforts.
Each year that passes increases the cost of merging. Although consolidation efforts lowered the cost since the 2006/2007 vote, as long as Village taxes continue to increase, the tax impact of merger on residents outside the Village grows.
What are the Town Selectboard and Village Trustees doing to gather input from residents on the question of merger?
Before developing a merger plan, the Town Selectboard and Village Trustees gathered input from residents.
Before developing a merger plan, the Town Selectboard and Village Trustees gathered input from residents.
- A qualitative survey – July 2-15, 2019. Here is the July 18 report on the survey results.
- Six focus groups – Aug. 13-15, 2019. Here is the Aug. 22 report on the focus group results.
- Final quantitative survey – Sept. 24-Oct. 11, 2019. Here is the Oct. 29 report on the final survey.
General Questions
Why merge?
The Village Board of Trustees and Town Selectboard have come up with the following answer to “Why Merge?”: The Village Board of Trustees and Town Selectboard believe we will be stronger together as one united community. We can work as one to plan for the future, attract and retain a vibrant business community, protect our natural resources, restore and enhance our infrastructure, improve our services, overcome challenges we face, and establish ourselves as Vermont’s premier livable community.
For those reasons, we are exploring a merger of the Town of Essex and Village of Essex Junction. We’re relying on residents’ feedback to help us develop the best models for representation and for taxing everyone equitably for our municipal services. We ask all our residents and businesses to give us feedback on what they seek in a merged community, so that we can develop a governance plan for a vote in November 2020.
The Village Board of Trustees and Town Selectboard have come up with the following answer to “Why Merge?”: The Village Board of Trustees and Town Selectboard believe we will be stronger together as one united community. We can work as one to plan for the future, attract and retain a vibrant business community, protect our natural resources, restore and enhance our infrastructure, improve our services, overcome challenges we face, and establish ourselves as Vermont’s premier livable community.
For those reasons, we are exploring a merger of the Town of Essex and Village of Essex Junction. We’re relying on residents’ feedback to help us develop the best models for representation and for taxing everyone equitably for our municipal services. We ask all our residents and businesses to give us feedback on what they seek in a merged community, so that we can develop a governance plan for a vote in November 2020.
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How are residents of the Town and Village defined?
The geographic boundary of the Town includes the Village. Village residents are also residents of the Town. However, residents of the Town who do not live within the borders of the Village are not residents of the Village. |
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What about separating?
The Selectboard and Trustees created a governance subcommittee in July 2018 to explore governance options. The committee vetted over a dozen governance scenarios and determined that separation did not meet most of the criteria they established to measure what would benefit the community. Committee members at the time (Elaine Haney, Max Levy, George Tyler, and Irene Wrenner) unanimously agreed that separation would not improve relations or transparency, would not maintain a high level of service, would not enable tax equity, and basically failed the test the committee established. Both boards supported the committee’s recommendations. What’s more, all elected officials from both boards publicly stated their preference for one community and one government at a joint public meeting in April 2018. Both boards are exploring merger because it could allow for better use of scarce resources, to eliminate confusion for residents, and to save money over time.
The Selectboard and Trustees created a governance subcommittee in July 2018 to explore governance options. The committee vetted over a dozen governance scenarios and determined that separation did not meet most of the criteria they established to measure what would benefit the community. Committee members at the time (Elaine Haney, Max Levy, George Tyler, and Irene Wrenner) unanimously agreed that separation would not improve relations or transparency, would not maintain a high level of service, would not enable tax equity, and basically failed the test the committee established. Both boards supported the committee’s recommendations. What’s more, all elected officials from both boards publicly stated their preference for one community and one government at a joint public meeting in April 2018. Both boards are exploring merger because it could allow for better use of scarce resources, to eliminate confusion for residents, and to save money over time.
What about the culture of the two communities?
Culture means different things to different people. The Selectboard and Trustees understand the importance of culture and will be reviewing responses from surveys and focus groups to understand how to best address the culture of the Town of Essex and the Village of Essex Junction.
Culture means different things to different people. The Selectboard and Trustees understand the importance of culture and will be reviewing responses from surveys and focus groups to understand how to best address the culture of the Town of Essex and the Village of Essex Junction.
Have the consolidation of some services in the past several years, starting with a shared Town and Village Manager as of 2013, saved money?
Yes, consolidation efforts to date have saved more than $2.8 million from Fiscal Year 2014 to Fiscal Year 2020. (This does not include ordinary everyday things like the sharing of equipment or when the Town Engineer helped the Village receive a grant for bridge work.)
Here is the breakdown for each municipality:
Manager $367,000 $606,000
Finance & Admin $378,000 $179,000
Stormwater & Public Works $344,000 $254,000
Total Savings $1,089,000 $1,039,000 = $2.13M
Manager $67,200 $113,500
Finance & Admin $194,300 $195,600
Stormwater & Public Works $59,800 $62,300
Total Savings $321,300 $371,400 = $0.69M
Yes, consolidation efforts to date have saved more than $2.8 million from Fiscal Year 2014 to Fiscal Year 2020. (This does not include ordinary everyday things like the sharing of equipment or when the Town Engineer helped the Village receive a grant for bridge work.)
Here is the breakdown for each municipality:
- FY2014 - FY2019: $2.13 Million
Manager $367,000 $606,000
Finance & Admin $378,000 $179,000
Stormwater & Public Works $344,000 $254,000
Total Savings $1,089,000 $1,039,000 = $2.13M
- FY2020: $0.69 Million
Manager $67,200 $113,500
Finance & Admin $194,300 $195,600
Stormwater & Public Works $59,800 $62,300
Total Savings $321,300 $371,400 = $0.69M
How would a merger affect development?
Merging the Town and Village governments wouldn’t change their comprehensive plans, but, over time, it would merge them into a single document. If merger happens, the long-term evolution of the newly unified Town-Village comprehensive plan would be under the control of a single planning commission, development office, and elected board. Changes and updates would reflect the coordinated strategic vision of the entire community. Zoning and subdivision regulations and land development code would then be updated according to the strategic vision laid out in the comprehensive plan of the entire community.
Merging the Town and Village governments wouldn’t change their comprehensive plans, but, over time, it would merge them into a single document. If merger happens, the long-term evolution of the newly unified Town-Village comprehensive plan would be under the control of a single planning commission, development office, and elected board. Changes and updates would reflect the coordinated strategic vision of the entire community. Zoning and subdivision regulations and land development code would then be updated according to the strategic vision laid out in the comprehensive plan of the entire community.
How would merger affect my property taxes?
Residents of the Town outside the Village currently pay municipal taxes only to the Town. Residents of the Village of Essex Junction currently pay municipal taxes to both the Village and Town
Residents of the Town outside the Village currently pay municipal taxes only to the Town. Residents of the Village of Essex Junction currently pay municipal taxes to both the Village and Town
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The amount Essex homeowners owe in municipal tax is based on the assessed home value:
Additional Considerations:
- A resident of the Town outside the Village with a home value of $280,000 pays a total of $1,510.88 in municipal taxes
- A resident of the Village of Essex Junction with a home value of $280,000 pays a total of $2,405.76 in municipal taxes
Additional Considerations:
- All residents of Essex, whether in the Village or the Town outside the Village, pay the same rate in education taxes. Education tax rates would not be impacted by merger.
- Only users of municipal water and sewer pay for these services. Residents in parts of Essex that do not have municipal water or sewer service do not pay for those services or their associated infrastructure.
- Any remaining debt owed by the Village municipality will stay with the properties in the Village. A temporary “Village Debt Assessment District” would be established and sunset once the debt is paid in full by Village residents.