Residents of the Otter Valley Unified Union School District (OVUUSD) are weighing their options after the district’s proposed $28 million budget was approved by just one vote—817 to 816—on March 4, 2025. Given the razor-thin margin, community members are exploring their rights under Vermont law to request a recount or petition for a reconsideration vote.
Under Vermont election statutes (17 V.S.A. § 2683 & § 2661), if a ballot measure passes or fails by less than 5% of the total votes cast, registered voters have the right to request a recount. Additionally, a reconsideration vote can be triggered if 5% of the district’s registered voters sign a petition requesting another vote within 30 days of the election.
A Single Vote Decides a Multi-Million Dollar Budget
With 1,633 votes cast out of the district’s 7,241 registered voters, turnout was relatively low for such a high-stakes decision. The one-vote margin has sparked discussion across the district, which serves Brandon, Pittsford, Sudbury, Whiting, Leicester, and Goshen.
According to Vermont’s Secretary of State guidelines, this result qualifies for a recount. However, the process is not automatic—it requires at least one registered voter from each town in the district to submit a signed letter to their respective town clerk, who will then forward the request to the OVUUSD School Board. The deadline to file a recount request is 10 days from the election. The recount itself would be conducted by the Board of Civil Authority, which would re-tabulate the votes to verify the outcome.
Beyond a recount, some residents are also considering petitioning for a revote. Vermont law allows voters to challenge a budget decision through a reconsideration petition, which must be filed within 30 days of the vote. With 7,241 registered voters in the district, at least 365 valid signatures would be required to trigger a special election. If enough signatures are gathered, the school board would be required to hold another district-wide vote on the budget within 60 days.
Sticker Shock Over Budget Increases
One local resident, who asked not to be named, expressed frustration over the 9.38% increase in per-pupil spending in the approved budget, especially given that the previous year’s budget had already seen a double-digit increase.
“Last year, we saw a more than 12% increase in the school budget, and now they’re asking for another 9% on top of that. Inflation is running at 2%, so we were expecting something more reasonable—maybe a 3% to 4% increase at most. But this just feels excessive,” they said.
Their concerns are echoed by other taxpayers in the district, many of whom are feeling the strain of rising property taxes and household expenses.
Recount and Reconsideration Process Under Vermont Law
Vermont law provides clear avenues for challenging election results on ballot questions, including school budgets.
- Recount (17 V.S.A. § 2683): If the margin of victory is less than 5% of total votes cast, any registered voter in the district may request a recount. However, at least one voter from each town in the district must submit a signed request to their town clerk, who will then forward it to the OVUUSD School Board. The request must be filed within 10 days of the vote. The recount is conducted by the Board of Civil Authority.
- Reconsideration Petition (17 V.S.A. § 2661): If 5% of registered voters in the OVUUSD—at least 365 signatures—sign a petition within 30 days, the school board must warn a special meeting for a revote within 60 days. However, a question can only be reconsidered once in a 12-month period, unless the board chooses to allow additional votes.
Petition Effort Already Underway
At least one resident has already begun drafting the petition to gather the 365 signatures needed to force a revote.
“I was shocked by another big increase, and I feel we need to do something,” the resident said. “It’s not sustainable. We’re already working on the petition, and I encourage voters to be on the lookout if they are interested in signing.”
Residents in favor of a revote are expected to begin circulating the petition in the coming days. Those interested in signing can look for notices in their communities or reach out to local organizers.
What Happens Next?
Residents interested in challenging the vote have limited time to act. The deadline to request a recount is March 14, 2025, meaning a decision needs to be made quickly. Meanwhile, a petition for reconsideration must be filed by April 3, 2025. If enough signatures are gathered, the school board will be required to schedule another vote.
For now, district taxpayers remain divided—some arguing that the budget is necessary to maintain quality education, while others believe the increases are unsustainable. Whether a recount or revote happens will depend on how many residents step forward to take action in the coming days.
Dave Soulia | FYIVT
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