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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 04/09/1987BUDGET HEARING 9 APRIL 1987 A Public Hearing on the 1987-1988 South Burlington Budget was held on Thursday, 9 April 1987, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Paul Farrar, Chairman; Michael Flaherty, Molly Lambert, Francis X. Murray, George Mona; William Szymanski, City Manager SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Bernadine Collins, Chairperson; Barry Genzlinger, Frederick Tuttle, Superintendent of Schools ALSO PRESENT: Margaret Picard, City Clerk/Treasurer; Don Whitten, Water Pollution Control District; Betty Merrill, City Manager's Office; John Race, Police Chief; Albert Audette, Street Dept; Lawrence Lecours, Leo Brown, School District; Marni Kneeland, Library Director; Mary Whitten, Will Barrett, William Stone CITY BUDGET Mr. Szymanski presented the City Budget for 1987-88. He explained that the Charter sets limits on City Government expenditures (not including the self-supporting Water Pollution Control and certain other entities such as CCTA and the County Courthouse). There are 2 limits: the increase in the tax rate for the operating budget and the increase in the overall budget. The estimated Grand List for 1987-88 is 5,665,100, a 4.52% increase over last year. Thus, the tax rate for the operating budget can increase by that amount. The maximum city operating budget tax rate is .532. The maximum operating budget can be increased by no more than 10%. Last year's budget was $3,447,564. Increasing this by 10% would result in a maximum allowable operating budget of $3,792,320. The total bonded debt is $584,731 with a total bonded debt tax rate of .052. The total City tax rate including Other Assessments (.037) will be .621. What this means is that a home valued at $75,000 would see an increase for the city operating budget and bonded debt of $11.25 for the year. A home valued at $100,000 would see an increase of $15.00 for the year. The budget reflects a 6% increase in salaries. Insurances have increased by as much as 15%. There are also some small increases for social service agencies such as VNA, Special Transportation, and Women Helping Battered Women. $26,000 has been budgeted to start a replacement fund for fire equipment which is going on 20 years old. $9350 has been budgeted for recreation facilities improvements including tennis courts, the high school scoreboard, and basketball courts. An additional policeman will be added at mid-year. A police cruiser will be bought. $4000 has been allocated for police training and $2800 for crime prevention in conjunction with the new juvenile officer. The highway budget includes money for reconstructing Ethan Allen Drive, sidewalks on Patchen Rd. at least half way from Richard Terr. to Kirby Rd., plus work on Country Club Rd. and Berard Dr. Work will be completed on Hadley Rd, Victoria Dr, and Swift Street. $25,000 has been allocated for work at the landfill in association with the new sewage treatment plant facility. This plant will also bring about an increase up to $47,000 for electricity. Mr. Szymanski noted that Revenue Sharing will end after this year. Capital Additions to the Operating Budget include for 1987-88 $8500 for highway repair, 5,000 for park maintenance, $12,500 for a policeman for half a year, and $26,000 for the fire equipment fund. In the May election there will be a bond issue for $175,000 for construction of a fire sub-station on Holmes Rd. The city will get an additional $80,000 from the now disbanded fire district as a contribution toward this station. There will also be an item for a Charter change to allow the city to purchase fire equipment over a period of several years in the same way that highway equipment is bought. Mr. Tuttle then presented the School District budget. He began with an overview of significant items. The enrollment for 1987-88 is projected at 2052, an increase from this year's 2025. Most growth is occurring at the elementary level. The district is now completing year 1 of a 2-year teachers contract. Part of the contract called for negotiations for a new salary structure which is going on now. The Board and the Union are still far apart and the Board has asked for aid from a fact finder. A 6-1/2% increase is included in the budget for support staff. A 4% increase is included for administrators who will be in the last year of a 3-year contract in 87-88. Mr. Tuttle noted that income from tuition students raises more income than State aid. This year there are 58 tuition students, 34 paid by towns, 24 paid privately. Next year's tuition rates will be $4400 for grades 7-12, $4200 for grades 1-6, and $3200 for Kindergarten. The only staff reduction for the coming year will be at the high school where there will be a reduction of 1.20 full time equivalents. This year, a computer committee updated an earlier report. As a result, $36,500 will be in the budget for software and some supplies. About $23,000 of this will be from federal funds. There will be at least 1 computer for each elementary grade level. A committee studying the art curriculum has resulted in the funding of a position to teach art and to coordinate art/drama/dance in the district. Both the city and the schools will contribute $4900 toward the library computer. For the high school to meet PSA compliance more phys ed had to be added in addition to math, science and global studies classes. Graduation requirements will increase from 16 to 20 credits. The middle school was reviewed for recognition under a program for "outstanding schools" similar to the award won by the high school 2 years ago. Mr. Tuttle said the school budget is governed by the same rules as the city's budget. The operating budget this year is $10,258,765, an 8.9% increase over last year. The debt service is, however, declining. The total gross budget is $11,345,587, and the total tax rate increase is 4.07%. As with the city, insurance will increase about 15%. Additional funds for staff development/in-service reflect an attempt to increase efforts in these areas to promote growth opportunities for teachers. One-time expenditures in the supplementary request reserve fund include $2200 for grade 7 science texts, $4900 for the library computer, and $5000 to upgrade video equipment. Additional funding is included for operation and maintenance of plant as increasing age of the buildings requires more of this attention. Efforts to correct problems with food service have been very successful, and they are close to being in the black. The 10-year capital budget shows the middle school will be paid off in 87-88 and the 3 elementary additions in 89-90. Mr. Tuttle anticipated that a new elementary school could be needed in 1991-92. The bus garage question will also have to be looked at and resolved soon. There will be a ballot item for work recommended at each of the schools. Electric heating will be replaced with gas at Central & Orchard. Central School gym windows will be insulated; major leaks at Chamberlin School will require re-roofing. The request is for $325,880. Some items have been approved for 50% funding. The bond will be repaid over a 4-year period. Mr. Tuttle said that on a $100,000 house, the school budget would increase taxes by $68.00. Mr. Tuttle advised that the PTO will be holding coffee hours after the school vacation to discuss ballot items. As there was no further business to be transacted, the Public Hearing adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.