WVTK Local & State News May 6, 2014

Voters in Brandon are going to the polls today to try and pass a budget for the next fiscal year starting in July. Last year, it took 4 votes to pass the current budget. This year, the budget was defeated at Town Meeting Day. The proposed budget is $3,218,670 of which $2,613,995 would be raised through property taxes. The revised budget is only $57,000 less than the one that was soundly defeated on Town Meeting Day. The polls are open at the Neshobe School tonight until 7 p.m.

While a plan bringing a natural gas pipeline across Vermont is controversial, it also has its supporters, and now the first contract to build it is now signed. Engineers Construction Incorporated, a local Williston company got the 300-million dollar contract and will start drilling in June for Phase 1 of the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project. That will extend natural gas service to Vermonters in Monkton, St. George, Bristol and New Haven. Engineers Construction will be adding 30 new employees for the project.

If Governor Peter Shumlin puts his signature on it, a new law moving the state's Primary election will shift back from the fourth Tuesday in August to the second Tuesday. The bill approved by lawmakers would not go into effect, though, until 2016. The federal Department of Justice says the current system does not give Vermont enough time to mail general election ballots to those voters working overseas in the military.

If you're in the market for everything from a plow truck to a kayak, the State of Vermont has a deal for you. At this state auction, there are no reserves which everything will be sold to the highest bidder. The director of Vermont's Government Business Services says there are about 100 items headed for the auction block. They includes snow plows, cars, trucks, kayaks, and snowmobiles. The auction will take place at the Agency of Transportation Central Garage in Berlin. There will be an early preview on Friday from 11am to 3pm to check out the items. Also Saturday from 8 to 10am. The auction starts right at ten.