Copy of Budget Information
A Special Article for the MVU Parking Lot
Our community has consistently asked for renovations to the MVU parking lot. Because this will add about $0.04 to the equalized tax rate, we are putting that to an individual vote to ensure it truly reflects the majority opinion.
Note that this project will not change the footprint or traffic flow pattern of the parking lot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Special Article for the MVU Parking Lot?
A:This means that the vote for the school budget and the vote for funds to fix the MVU parking lot will be separate items on the ballot. Voters can approve both, only one, or neither.
Q: How Are Our Schools Doing?
A: We're happy to report state test scores are up in all subject areas. But test scores are only part of the picture of school success. Enrollment is stable, average daily attendance is 95%, and staff retention is at 90%. We have also started to increase focus on preparing students for future success, with a dedicated career-readiness center in MVU, on site agriculture and welding training, a partnership with Northwest Career and Technical Center, work placement programs, an internship program, an annual apprenticeship fair, early college offerings, and more opportunities being added every year. This budget was designed to ensure level services to students to maintain this momentum while also keeping our rank as one of the lowest spending districts in the state.
Q: What is a Level Service Budget?
A: A Level Service Budget means keeping the same services offered to students without removing any from the previous year, even if they have increased in cost. This helps ensure consistent progress for students year to year.
Q: What is the tax impact of this budget?
A: Tax rates are calculated using a wide variety of factors, and individual district spending per student is just a small part. For this proposed budget the Equalized Tax Rate is DOWN $0.02. This tax rate is shared among every town in the district and is more reflective of what is within local control than individual households' final tax rate which can continue to fluctuate even after a school budget is passed.
Q: How Can the Tax Rate Go Down if the School Budget Goes Up?
A: School funding is distributed by the state based on the total budgets passed by all school districts and supervisory unions. This means if spending is down on average throughout the state, taxes can go down, even if our individual district budget goes up.
Final tax rates will not be set until after all school budgets are approved, and can be influenced further by legislative decisions like using other state funds to buy down property tax rates. This is being discussed again this year, but is not certain. Based on current most conservative estimates, tax rates in MVSD will likely be between 4.2-6.3%. These increases are mostly influenced by property value adjustments in each town because homes are taxed on the assessed value which has not been updated in many years, but the state uses a formula to increase tax rates to reflect real property value, which continues to increase in all of our towns every year.
The state also has income based tax credits that many homes in our district qualify for, so if your household income is under $115,400, you may not need to pay the full property tax amount. Learn more about the program at https://tax.vermont.gov/property/property-tax-credit
Q: How Does MVSD Spending Compare to the Rest of the State?
A: MVSD is one of the best values in Vermont. Even with rising test scores and increasing student opportunities, we spend less than 80% of school districts in the state. About $1500 less per student than the state average.
Polling Places and Times
Franklin - Franklin Town Hall, 5336 Main St. Franklin; from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Highgate - Highgate Sports Arena, 243 Gore Rd. Highgate Center; from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Swanton - Swanton Village Municipal Complex, First & Elm Sts. Swanton; from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Annual Meeting Warning
The legal voters of the Missisquoi Valley School District, consisting of the Towns of Franklin, Highgate, and Swanton, are hereby notified, and warned to meet to transact the following business by Australian ballot in their respective polling places hereinafter named for each of the above referenced towns on March 3, 2026 at the polling places and times hereinafter listed.
ARTICLE I To elect from the legal voters of said District the following officers:
- A Moderator for a term of one (1) year,
- A MVSD School Director for a term of three (3) years from Franklin,
- A MVSD School Director for a term of three (3) years from Highgate,
- A MVSD School Director for a term of three (3) years from Swanton,
- A MVSD School Director for the one (1) remaining year of a three (3) year term from Highgate.
ARTICLE II Shall the voters of the Missisquoi Valley School District approve the School Directors to
expend $52,440,854 which is the amount the School Directors have determined to be necessary for the
ensuing fiscal year? The District estimates that this proposed budget, if approved, will result in a per
pupil education spending of $12,351, which is 1.3% higher than the per pupil spending for the current
year.
ARTICLE Ill Shall the voters of the Missisquoi Valley School District approve the School Directors to expend $1,270,500 for a parking lot and lighting replacement project at Missisquoi Valley Union Middle and High School?
ARTICLE IV Shall the voters of the Missisquoi Valley School District authorize the Board of Directors of
the said School District to borrow money to pay the current expenditures in anticipation of taxes and to
sign notes for that purpose?
the said School District to borrow money to pay the current expenditures in anticipation of taxes and to
sign notes for that purpose?
Said persons and voters warned are further notified that voter qualification, registration, absentee voting, and voter procedures shall be in accordance with Chapters 43 and 51 of Title 17 VSA.
The legal voters of the School District are further notified that an Informational Meeting will be held in person at Missisquoi Valley Union High School Library and electronically via Zoom on February 17, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of explaining the budget items to the voters. The link to access this virtual meeting will be posted on the MVSD Website, mvsdschools.org, and MVSD social media prior to the meeting.
Videos About Our Schools
MVSD Values Efficiency and Sustainability
Operating efficiently improves student outcomes while keeping costs down at the same time! At MVSD we aim to make smart investments in staff and facilities to ensure our community gets the best value from our schools.
MVSD Fosters Enthusiasm and Well Being
Creating a culture of academic excellence starts with making learners enthusiastic about school! Showing students, staff and families that they are genuinely valued makes everyone feel like part of the school community, and that's why MVSD puts so many resources into programs to support physical, mental and emotional well-being.
How MVSD Makes Learning Better
Investing in academic excellence means we can afford the best learning resources for every student, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities necessary for success in college, careers, and life. Our proposed budget for next year will maintain level services to help us maintain momentum while keeping our rank as one of the lowest spending districts in the state.
MVSD Prepares Students for the Future
Our district has increased focus on providing opportunities for students that will guide them toward success along whatever path they choose, both in school and after graduation! The community has made clear that this is a major priority, so we've planned our budget for next year to continue all of these services while still REDUCING the equalized tax rate.
Sample Ballot