BOLTON, Vt. -
People came in slowly at the polling place in Bolton, Vermont Tuesday.
While they were silent filling out ballots there, hours earlier during the town meeting people say it was much different.
"There was a little bit more opposition to the school budget," said Jerry Mullen.
In the end, taxpayers approved a budget that increases taxes by 17%.
"I was a little bit shocked," said Mullen.
"It's a lot of money," said Steve Peery.
School leaders say the budget skyrocketed because of a loss in state and federal money, and a decreasing school population.
And to keep the Smilie Memorial School going voters will pay hundreds more.
"Both my kids went here, it was wonderful for them and I want to provide that for our town," said Peery.
"Pull the belt in a little bit, you know I'm on a retirement income," said Mullen.
While taxpayers here just passed a large school budget, we asked school leaders what 2014 looks like and they said thanks to the extra funds from this year's budget, next year isn't looking nearly as high.
Now that the budget has passed, a person with a $120,000 dollar home and a making $60,000 a year will pay nearly $2,000 dollars in taxes.
That also includes a proposed statewide five-cent property tax increase, which lawmakers say they may need because places like Bolton keep increasing school cost.
"I think they really ought to find a better way to raise the money," said Mullen.
Lawmakers haven't officially increased property taxes; they're waiting on Town Meeting Day's results.
For more information on individual town taxes, click here.
