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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 04/10/1986 (2)PUBLIC HEARING 10 APRIL 1986 A Public Hearing on the 1986-1987 City of South Burlington City and School District budgets was held on Thursday, 10 April 1986, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. City Council Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Michael Flaherty, Leona Lansing, George Mona, Francis X. Murray School Directors Present Bernadine Collins, Chairman; Dennis Snyder, Barry Genzlinger, Bruce MacPherson, Theodore Manazir, Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; Frederick Tuttle, Superintendent of Schools; Lawrence LeCours, Leo Brown, Robert Di Ferdinando, Marilyn Dunn, Anne Browne, School District; Margaret Picard, City Clerk/Treasurer, Gloria Yandow, City Bookkeeper, Bruce O'Neill, Recreation Dept, Donald Whitten, Water Pollution Control Dept; Marnie Kneeland, Community Library Director; Betty Merrill, City Hall; Sidney Poger, The Other Paper; Anne Francisco, Bruce Ladeau, Maurice Mahoney, Jr., South Burlington High School; Philip McArthur, Diane McArthur, Mark Kennedy, Monica Smith, Alan Cooke, John Dinklage, James Howley, Vi Luginbuhl, Jean Stone, William Stone, William Newton, Will Barrett, William Schuele, Ethel Schuele, Kay Neubert, Roderick Marcotte Mr. Farrar explained the method by which the tax rate was computed. He noted that because there had been a reappraisal last year, the usual method of computation was not used, and the Steering Committee adopted a resolution indicating that in the case when a tax rate was set after the April hearing, the new tax rate would be used to set the limit the following year. He added that there are 4 pieces to the City budget: City operating budget, City debt budget, "other public entities" (including the City's share of the County Courthouse, CCTA, MPO, etc.), and the self-supporting Water Pollution Control District. The Charter limitations apply only to the City operating budget. The tax rate will increase by 4% and the budget by 10%. There is no requirement to spend additional revenue sharing dollars, so in actuality, the budget increase is only 8%. It is expected that the revenue sharing check in October will be the last one. In anticipation of this, the City has not expended all the funds anticipated, so that some can be saved to smooth over the transition. There are 2 additions to the budget for increases in service. An additional officer in the Police Department will begin in January, 1987, and a sinking fund for the Fire Department's replacement of vehicles has been started. The community is growing, and the 4 major pieces of equipment are of 1970 vintage. The City anticipates having to buy several new fire trucks and hopes in this way to avoid having to ask for a bond issue. Major expenditure increases are for liability insurance which has increased over 100% in the last 2 or 3 years. If this trend has not slowed down, the City will have a serious problem. There are no other new programs or expansions of services. Mr. Farrar said it is expected in the years to come that additional services will have to be added to match community growth as the City is now providing the same services it did years ago for a significantly larger community. This cannot go on without seriously degrading the service to the community. With this in mind, the Council has tried to lay out what it believes will be necessary in order to maintain the level of service the community has enjoyed and has projected what will be needed from bond issues and what can be added to the operating budget still remaining within Charter limitations. This list will be updated each year. Ms. Neubert expressed her thanks for the sidewalk that was installed on Hinesburg Rd. Mr. Dinklage asked when there will be catch basins to help solve the flooding in the spring. Mr. Szymanski said that this year such work will be done on Victoria Drive and Hadley Rd. A part of Swift St. will be redone to the top of the hill. Airport Rd. and Kimball Avenue will also be worked on, and Dean St. and Woodcrest Drive will be repaved. A pipe was put in at Williston Rd. and Kennedy Dr. that was not big enough to handle the water problem. Talks have been held about building a spillway around this problem but this will require cooperation of all the owners in that area. Mr. Schuele said that both the City Council and Planning Commission must think more seriously before filling in drainage ways. Mr. Farrar agreed and felt the best solution was not to convert drainage ways to pipe. Ms. Lugenbuhl asked what will happen to services previously provided under revenue sharing. Mr. Farrar said these will be absorbed into the budget. He felt the City had planned well for this eventuality and could handle the situation. The question of a traffic light at Dorset Street and Kennedy Drive was raised. Mr. Farrar said if the cost is reasonable, it would be handled in the budget. Otherwise, it will be included in the Dorset Street project when that is done. Mr. Stone asked when bonding for roads is anticipated. Mr. Farrar said probably in 1988-89, depending on federal tax laws. There are anticipated changes which may affect the way the City can borrow funds. Mr. Tuttle then presented the School District budget. In an overview, he noted that enrollment this September was 2,003, and it is projected that there will be 1,985 next year. This has begun to stabilize and the rate of decline is slowing. The elementary school enrollment is increasing. Contract negotiations are in progress with the teachers, and proposals for support staff are currently being received. A resolution is expected by the end of the year. Administrators are in the first year of a 3-year contract. There are 38 tuition students this year, and 45 are projected for next year. Pupil-teacher ratios at the elementary school are 18.17 to 1; at the middle school 18 to 1; and at the high school 16.5 to 1. The proposed budget reflects a 1.20 fulltime equivalent reduction in staff. The Kindergarten program which was lengthened last year will result in part-time teachers being increased to full-time. Elementary guidance personnel will go from 3 days a week to 4. Efforts to update learning materials will continue with $8,000 appropriated for math review this year and $43,000 for new texts. The schools will participate with the city in funding a computer system for the Library. A study will be done on the feasibility of establishing a non-profit self-sustaining daycare center for employees. In addition, the music program and elementary guidance program will be reviewed. Mr. Tuttle noted that the High School was designated one of the outstanding high schools in the nation and also received accreditation for the next 10 years. The proposed budget reflects an 8.43 budget increase. Specific changes include an increase of $54,000 for special ed, a great deal of which comes from Federal and State government. Aide salaries are up to support IEP needs. Psychological services are up about $12,000 to help meet requirements in developing IEP's. Federal and state funds are also provided for this. There have been significant increases in insurance. In addition, allotments for electricity are up due to a pending increase. Vehicle insurance is up $5,000. It was noted that Kindergarten children at Chamberlin School will be bused next year at no additional cost. An additional person will be hired in the data processing area. Mr. Tuttle noted that the budget breakdown shows 68.7% budgeted for certified personnel, with 14.9% for support staff, and 7.75 for supplies. Services and equipment make up the balance. The 10-year capital budget shows that the Middle School will be paid off in 1987-88, the elementary additions in 1989-90, and the high school addition in 1996-97. Mr. Barrett asked if Mr. Tuttle felt the contingency amount would handle teacher salary increases. Mr. Tuttle felt this was an appropriate figure. The question of per-pupil costs was raised, and Mr. Tuttle said the last figures available (1983-84) indicate South Burlington spending $4,009 with Essex Junction at $4060, CVU at $3841, and Essex Town at $3500. Ms. Collins said the Board is watching very carefully what happens with State aid to education and urged the public to watch this as well. She explained that under the proposed formula S. Burlington would have to raise about $2,000,000 additional taxes just to maintain what exists now. Mr. Tuttle added that school and city officials had met with members of the State Senate on this issue (with only Senators Hoff and Crowley appearing). The Senators had not yet seen the bill. Sen. Hoff felt this was needed to equalize educational opportunity in the state. Sen. Crowley said this was not his area of expertise of interest. Mr. Farrar said he had testified against the bill and felt it would be disastrous from the point of view of development in the state. As there was no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.