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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 04/07/1988PUBLIC HEARING: 1988-1989 BUDGET 7 APRIL 1988 A Public Hearing on the proposed 1988-1989 City Expense Budget was held on Thursday, 7 April 1988, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street Those Present City Council: Paul Farrar, Chairman; Molly Lambert; William Szymanski, City Manager School Board: Dennis Snyder, Chairman; Barbara LeWinter, Theodore Manazir, Bruce MacPherson; Frederick Tuttle, Supt. of Schools; Lawrence Lecours, Leo Brown, School District Margaret Picard, City clerk/Treasurer; Sylvia Smith, Natural Resources Committee and Library Committee; Betty Merrill, City Manager's Office; Bruce O'Neill, Recreation Dept; Don Whitten, Water Pollution Control Dept; Sidney Poger, The Other Paper; Bob O'Brien, Jeanne Kennedy, Sandra Stoddert, James Ryan, Lee Graham, Jim Leddy, Bruce Ladeau, Jean Stone, William Stone, Robert Leclair, William Schuele Mr. Farrar explained budget limitations as set by the City Charter. These allow a total budget increase of no more than 10% and a total tax rate increase of no more than 5%. The Grand List used for this budget is $5,960,000, an increase of 5.2%. The maximum operating budget allowed is $4,138,980. The actual city budget is less than the Charter limit. Mr. Szymanski then reviewed the individual line items in the City Budget. This include additional support to Women Helping Battered Women and a one-time donation to the capital expense program of Maple Leaf Farm in Underhill. The fund for land acquisition for parks has been increased by $7500, $9400 has been appropriated for new voting machines (the old ones are being traded in). Under the Planning Office, $25,000 has been added for traffic studies. The Fire Dept. has a new station in the south end and have extra expenses to operate it. The include mainly utilities. Money has also been appropriated to replace old vehicles. $2,225 has been added to the bike trail fund. In the Police Dept., one more officer has been added in addition to more money for increased youth services and in-service training for officers. Officer Graham noted that they hope to expand the Officer Friendly program and the DARE program. One person has been added to the Street Department. Projects for the year include repaving of Ethan Allen Drive, Sherry Rd, part of Swift Street, and the sidewalk on Airport Parkway. Mr. Farrar noted that a bond issue will be on the ballot for other street work in the city including Poor Farm Rd., Berard Drive, Gilbert Street, and numerous others. The bond issue will also include the City's share of placing the Dorset St. utilities underground. This latter figure is still uncertain. Act 250 required utilities to be underground and said that the "applicants shall pay." It is still uncertain whether they have the legal authority to say who shall pay. Mr. Farrar felt they were coming closer to a reasonable figure. A citizen asked the total operating cost of the new fire station. Mr. Farrar estimated $10,000/year, mainly for utilities. In the future there will be additional costs for more personnel. Mrs. Maher noted that the Planning Commission assesses developers for sidewalks to be built. She noted that some of these were not built last year, including the one on Kennedy Drive for the new Merchants Bank building and also at Wellesley Grove. She asked if these would be built in the next year. Mr. Farrar said he thought they would. Mrs. Maher also requested, on behalf of the Planning Commission, a suitable display board for developers plans and some new chairs for the Conference Room. Mr. Ryan said he was concerned that the budget mailed to taxpayers is unintelligible and requested better explanations of programs and services that money is spent for. He said he is very satisfied with the schools and city services but wants to understand more about them. He felt the City Council should also look more into other human services needs that the city could respond to. Mr. O'Brien felt that items of major increase or decrease should be starred and that type size should be increased. Mr. Leclair said he was depressed to see so few citizens at this meeting. He also questioned only $3800 appropriated for crime prevention. Officer Graham said this was only the cost of materials, not personnel. Mr. Leclair said he would like to see in the budget some indication of how the budget affects the average taxpayer. Mr. Farrar explained that the City is trying to catch up for the period when the cost of living went up higher than Charter limits could compensate for. He said they especially need to catch up in Fire and Police services. He noted that revenue sharing funds have disappeared and have to be replaced by local money. Mr. Leclair asked why South Burlington doesn't send a representative to the Affordable Housing Forum. Mr. Farrar said this was definitely not a deliberate attempt to avoid the forum. Supt. Tuttle then presented the School Budget. He began with some general background comments. Enrollment has been declining, but is now starting to increase. They project 2092 students next year, an increase of 49, mostly at the elementary level. Contract negotiations are currently going on with teachers. Administrators are concluding a 3-year contract and are also negotiating. Negotiations are in progress with support staff as well. Starting salary for a teacher in S. Burlington is $20,000 for year one. In 12 years of service with a Masters and 60 credits beyond (or a PhD), a teacher can earn $40,000. The average salary is currently $33,435. There are now 64 tuition students in S. Burlington, the majority at the high school level. Rates for 1988-9 are $3400 for kindergarten, $4500 for Grades 1-6, and $4700 for grades 7-12. The pupil teacher ration is just under 18 to 1. The district anticipates staff reductions of 1.20 FTE's for grade 6, .6 FTE's in the high school; 2.5 FTE's will be added at the elementary level. There will be a major change in the special ed program. In the past, S. Burlington has served surrounding communities with 19 pupils located in classes at Orchard School and the Middle School. These students will now return to their own districts to be mainstreamed into regular classes. The space used by special ed in Orchard School will be needed for additional S. Burlington children. Five teachers will be affected by this move. They may be reassigned or may have to find other jobs. The Public School Approval process has been completed at the Middle School and a written report is expected soon. Preliminary indications are very favorable. The elementary schools will go through this process in 1989-90. Orchard School is a finalist in the Award for Excellence program similar to that distinction achieved by the High School and Middle School. The expense budget breaks down as follows: 85.26% is for salaries; 7.07 for services; 6.75 for supplies, and .92 for equipment. The school budget is governed by the same Charter limitations as the City. The tax rate for next year is below the maximum allowed. The operating budget will be $11,284,642 with $10,360,974 to be raised from taxes. The operating budget tax rate is $1.738 with a total tax rate of $1.778. The total gross budget increases by 6.22%. Contingency amounts have been set aside for contract settlements and for medical insurance. Other line items of interest include: additional guidance secretarial time, an increase in funds for staff development, a full-time administration secretary, a new school bus and driver. An anticipated savings of $14,000 is projected because of the energy conservation program. In addition, the food service program is now self- sustaining. The long term debt will decrease by about $90,000. The district anticipates they will need additional space for elementary students by 1991-2. A bus garage is also needed. Mr. Leddy asked if the City will have to pick up additional state aid money next year. Mr. Tuttle said it will unless the state aid is increased. Mr. Leddy asked how the district will deal with where children go to school. Presently, children don't necessarily go to the closest school. Mr. Tuttle said they will look very closely at this. They have been trying to maintain a balance in the 3 elementary schools. This will be re-evaluated and there may be redistricting. This is an emotional issue as people do become attached to schools. Mr. Taylor suggested the School Board involve the public in any new school building plans as he saw this as a major process in the community. Mr. Tuttle said they are trying to fine tune all the data first. Dr. MacPherson said they anticipate a 3-year time-frame and want to be sure when the crossover point will come. At that point, they will develop a public program much as the committee which served 6 years ago. Mr. Taylor asked about expenditures of negotiations which seemed low to him. Mr. Tuttle said that currently teachers and administrators are negotiating without consultants and are meeting on a regular basis. He felt this has been very productive and hoped they could stay within the budget. Mr. Tuttle then presented the School District's budget item. He stressed this is not a bond issue but is for authority to go beyond limits in the operating budget. Items included in this request are replacement for state special ed funds, a new bus, a new program for "at risk" students in the high school, a part time athletic trainer, space renovations at Orchard school, staff development, computer system upgrade. Mr. Ladeau explained the "at risk" program which would serve about 30 students a year who usually drop out of school because their needs are not being met. They would hope to use the old Water Dept. Building and have negotiated with the Water Dept. for its use. Mr. Tuttle said if the ballot item doesn't pass, there will have to be staff reductions so that $91,000 of these items can be included. Mr. Genslinger asked if the computer equipment is being upgraded fast enough to keep up with what's going on in Vermont and the rest of the country. He said he understood the District is behind what is recommended by the State and surrounding states. Ms. Stone said the ballot item seems like "apples and oranges" and noted that people may want some items but not others. Mr. Tuttle said it was their feeling that all items are essential and did not want to give the impression that some could be eliminated. Mrs. Lambert asked what would be eliminated if the item doesn't pass. Mr. Tuttle enumerated: 1 section of math, one of foreign language, a course in family living and a business ed course, the Rebelette coach, the high school printing program, a 1/2 time elementary position for gifted and talented students, a library personal, at the Middle School, aides, field trips and computer coaches. Mr. Leddy felt since people haven't had to vote for 7 years on such an item, they might ask "what's going on?" and might not vote for or against because of interest or opposition to specific items. The school board said they plan a wide voter contact/education program for the ballot item. As there was no further business to come before the meeting, adjournment occurred at 9:40 p.m. Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.