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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/16/1995STEERING COMMITTE 16 March 1995 The South Burlington Steering Committee held a Meeting on Thursday, 16 March 1995, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present City Council: Michael Flaherty, James Condos, William Cimonetti, Robert Chittenden; David Maclaughlin, Charles Hafter, City Manager; School Board: Dennis Snyder, Frank Murray, Theodore Manazir, Julie Duppstadt, Peter Cole; Bruce Chattman, Superintendent Also Present Peg Strait, Assistant City Manager; Margaret Picard, City Clerk/Treasurer; Bruce Ladeau, Marilyn Frederick, Darlene Worth, Robert DiFernando, David Ford, School District; Wallace Possich, Fire Dept; Larry Kupferman, Claire Buckley, Dwight Palmer 1. Presentation of 1995-96 City and School Budgets: a) City Budget: Mr. Hafter announced that for the second year in a row there will be a slight decrease in the city tax rate, from .88 to .831. This rate is achieved as follows: The estimated Grand List is $7,155,750., a 1.5% increase. This means the maximum operating budget tax rate could be .646. The maximum 1995-6 operating budget is $5,875,640. The maximum amount from taxes for the operating budget is $4,622,614. The tax cost to the average resident with a home valued at $115,000 (appraised value $75,000) for 1994-5 was 624.75. For 1995-6 it will be $623.25. Mr. Hafter then reviewed budget highlights: a) Comprehensive re-appraisal of all property in the city: there is $75,000 in the budget for this year to include such things as GIS tax mapping, hardware/software, data entry, and public input/education. b) Automation of Community Library: This is being accomplished through a joint city/school/trust funds effort. c) Roadway Improvement Program, year 2: Streets to be done this year include: Spear Street South, Proctor Avenue, Meadowood Drive, Victoria Dr., Woodbine St., Lindenwood Drive, Poor Farm Bridge, Van Sicklen Rd. Bridge, Brigham Rd, Twin Oaks Terrace, Twin Oaks North, Mayfair Dr. d) Major Capital Purchases: Recreation Dept: bike racks at Dorset Park (Mr. Hafter noted the grand opening of the park will be 13 May) trail work done by the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. Calkins House renovations a new furnace at the O'Brien Center Police Department: 3 new cruisers laser radar software for mug shots Fire Department: exhause removal system airpacks replacement fund for new pumper (increased) Highway Department: new loader and plow truck Mr. Hafter then noted that South Burlington has the 4th lowest average tax value in the county. This is because of the mix of business and industrial tax base. He stressed that proposed property tax reforms would take the benefit of that tax base away from the city. Mr. Hafter said there will be two ballot items in May. The first is an amendment to the City Charter which would change the time at which land for a proposed development is subject to an increase in taxes so that the increase would now take place when the first building permit is received instead of when the project is approved. The second item is for the expansion of the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. The city has the opportunity to borrow $4.9 million from the state at 0% interest for 20 years. This would save the city about $3,000,000 in interest over that period. South Burlington would still have the second lowest sewer rate in the county. Mr. Hafter noted the city is now paying $30,000+ for sewering the East Woods district (sewered by Burlington), but is only collecting $11,000 from that district. The expansion of the sewer facility would include sewering East Woods. This would save that $30,000 a year. 2. School Budget: Supt. Chattman noted there had been a change in the budget process this year. The Board asked administrators to bring goals from the long range plan into consideration with the budget process, not only for this year but for future years. There will be no ballot items this year as the schools will be able to operate within Charter limits. Supt. Chattman outlined the objectives of this budget: a) maintain essential programs b) add critically essential programs c) eliminate less essential programs that cannot be maintained due to limited resources d) provide reasonable compensation to all employees e) raise sufficient revenue to accomplish these goals The budget trend since 1992 has leveled off. This is in spite of the fact that sate aid has gone from $300,000 a year to zero in 1995-6. Supt. Chattman noted the proposed property tax reform bill would cost the city $1.2 million which taxpayers would have to make up. The school tax rate in the last 5 years has grown at a rate less than the cost of living index. The average school budget increase in the state in the past 8 years has been 8%. In South Burlington it has been only 6.35%. The equalized effective school tax rate shows that South Burlington is the 5th lowest in the county. South Burlington also has the 4th lowest income of citizens in the county. Supt. Chattman noted that budget increases have been less than increases in student population. This has resulted in larger class sizes. With regard to salaries, it is proposed that there be no increase in the base this year. In 1997, there would be a 2.5% increase which would still be less than the CPI increase. Salary increases in the past few years have been right about at the cost of living increases. Supt. Chattman noted that 85% of the budget is comprised of personnel costs. They are hoping to change that balance based on what goes into the classroom. He noted that South Burlington has been spending less of "core subject supply money." Burlington spends $84 per child (plus Title 1 funds), South Hero spends $118, Winooski spends $122 (plus tremendous state aid), and South Burlington spent $69 this past year. This will be increased to $75 next year. South Burlington gets only $2,000 in Title I money for supplies. Supt. Chattman then outlined the Strategic Plan Cost Projections: Increases in supplies and materials are as follows: There will be about $113,000 in the contingency fund. Supt. Chattman then reviewed areas where the budget was reduced: Bonded debt and assessments will yield $692,938. The operating tax rate for the schools will be 2.059. The bonded debt tax rate will be .097. This results in a total tax rate of 3.156. Mr. Snyder moved that the Steering Committee schedule a public hearing on the proposed budgets for 6 April 1995 at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 2. Other Business: Mr. Cimonetti encouraged the schools to keep talking about the reappraisal process in an effort to insure that the public is kept informed. 3. Review Minutes of 8 August 1994: Mr. Manazir moved that the Minutes of 8 August 1994 be approved as written. Mr. Coles seconded. Motion passed unanimously. As there was no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.