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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/21/1996STEERING COMMITTEE 21 March 1996 The South Burlington Steering Committee held a meeting on Thursday, 21 March 1996, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present City Council: James Condos, Michael Flaherty, William Cimonetti, Charles Hafter, City Manager; School Board: Theodore Manazir, Dennis Snyder, Francis Murray, Bruce Chattman, Superintendent Also Present Susan Lesage, Wendy Bilodeau, Diane McArthur, Irene Stowe, Jim Fuller, Sheri Rand, Chris Kasprisin, Judi Maynard, Darlene Worth David Ford, Michael Simpson, Kathryn Buley, Peter Cole, Frank Sadowski, Christopher McCandless, Deborah McGuin, Carol McQuillen, Karen George, Kerry Incavo, Lauren Groff, Janet Hayden, Janet Russell, Dominick Marabella, Leo Brown, R. DiFerdinando, Jane Di Ferdinando, Al Tremblay, Peter Crevier, Agnes Clift, Marilyn Frederick, M. Markelevitz 1. Presentation of City and School Budgets, Fiscal 1996-7: Mr. Condos introduced members of the Steering Committee. Mr. Hafter then presented the proposed City Budget: The total budget for operating costs and bonded debt is proposed at $8,416,000. This represents an increase of $28,000 over last year, less than a .03% increase. For the third year in a row, the tax rate has been slightly reduced from 83.1 in 1995-6 to 82.8 in 1996-7. The Grand List has increased 1.5%, from $7,115,000 to $7,263,000. The maximum amount that can be raised from taxes for the operating budget is $4,728,272. The operating tax rate has gone from .641 to .651. The bonded debt rate has decreased from .114 to .101 due to refinancing at lower interest rates. The budget for other entities (County Courthouse, Winooski Valley Park District, etc.) has remained the same with a tax rate of .041. The special highway repair bond voted by the taxpayers remains at a rate of .035. Mr. Hafter noted that over the last 6 years, it has cost the average South Burlington homeowner only $60 more for city services. Mr. Hafter credited city department heads for the success in keeping the operating tax rate in check. Since 1990, the total tax rate increase has been 5.8% while the CPI has increased 18%. Mr. Hafter then reviewed budget highlights: a. The city has been able to maintain almost all of its programs such as DARE, Kids & Kops, the Bike Path Patrol, etc. b. The State has promised that by July, 1997, the whole state will have E-911 service. Some people will get new street addresses as a result of this. c. Reappraisal will be done for the 1998 fiscal year. Driveby inspections will begin in July, 1996. Mr. Hafter briefly reviewed the process for reappraisal. Capital Purchases/Construction: Fire Department: The Fire Dept. will purchase 2 new pumpers and a defibrillator. There will be a continuing lease payment on the exhaust removal system, Scott Airpacks, and the new station doors. Police: The Police Dept. will purchase 2 new patrol vehicles, lasar radar, and the VIBRS computer system. They will continue the seasonal rental of a motorcycle. Natural Resources: A trail system will be begun on the Calkins property. There are now cross-country ski trails in operation. Community Library: The Library will purchase book bins for the children's library. They have also received a 5% increase in the book/periodical budget. Highway Dept: Garage improvements will be made, and next year they will begin the new public works facility. The Dept. will purchase a new Bobcat Loader and pickup truck. Road projects from the special appropriation will be continued. These include the repaving of Kimball Ave, Kirby Rd., Country Club Dr., Mountain View Bl., Cinda Lane, Kitty St., and Cheese Factory Rd. Other roads will be recycled, repaved and have drainage, curbs and/or sidewalk work done. There will be an increase in sewer rates brought about mainly by the increasing costs of sludge removal/disposal and the building of a reserve for the Bartlett Bay Sewage Treatment Plant expansion. The average family will see a $21.75 increase for the year in sewer fees. Mr. Hafter stressed that South Burlington is very competitive with the rest of the County. Proposed Charter Change: There will be a ballot item relating to the proposed elimination of the machinery and equipment tax in South Burlington. All business personal property first located in South Burlington after 1 April 1996 will be exempt from property tax. Existing equipment will decrease 20% per year over a 5-year period till it, too, is eliminated from this tax. In addition, there is an item on tax stabilization. Such agreements would be allowed with approval by 4 of 5 City Council members. Mr. Hafter noted that city has to do this to compete with surrounding towns, and it is hoped that additional business encouraged by this move will help offset money lost from elimination of the personal property tax. Public Hearings on this amendment will be held on 15 April and 22 April at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Murray asked if this amendment to the Charter has to be approved by the State Legislature. Mr. Hafter said it does. Mr. Crevier asked about the proposed expansion of the Bartlett Bay Sewage Plant. Mr. Hafter said the plant will go from $800,000 gpd to 1,200,000 gpd. Both the amount of treatment and the level of treatment will be increased. The city has a 30 year zero percent interest loan from the state which will be paid for by user fees. Some of the cost will be paid by impact fees (about 1/3). Mr. Cimonetti noted that this work will also allow the city to end its agreement with Burlington for the sewering of East Woods. The city has been paying a higher rate for this service. Mr. Cimonetti noted that there is an experiment underway at the Bartlett Bay Plant where sewage is being treated by a new technique. If the experiment continues to be satisfactory, the city will gain capacity because of it. Mr. Hafter added that the public is invited to visit this facility. S. Burlington High School students will be employed there during the summer. Mr. Flaherty complimented Mr. Hafter and city employees for the continuing efforts to keep expenses in check. Supt. Chattman then presented the proposed School Budget: He began by explaining the process of building the budget. 4 packages were considered: Package A: what must be done by state law, graduation requirements, debt service, contractural obligations, etc. Package B: what is currently being done, including some programs that go beyond basic requirements. Package C: what would enhance education even more. Package D: a 5-year perspective. Because of the magnitude of budget problems, only the A and B packages were dealt with. Supt. Chattman then outlined some of the factors impacting the school system. There has been a 20% increase in enrollment since 1992, but during the same time, per pupil expenditure has gone down almost $1000. A slight increase in per pupil expenditure is planned for next year. The total cost for the A & B packages would be $20,344,437. All available revenues total only $18,658,294. This means that $1,686,143 had to be cut from the budget. Cuts were divided as follows: $983,788 District 606,564 High School 72,331 Middle School 23,561 Elementary Schools Elementary Reductions include an office aide, technology, field trips, and the student patrol at Chamberlin. Middle School reductions include a .3FTE nurse, computer equipment, SAP, equipment and supplies, Library A/V, music equipment, athletics, and the Quest program. High School reductions include: supplies, materials and equipment, ancillary services, non-mandated programs. Supt. Chattman noted that 82% of the budget goes for personnel costs (this was 88% 4 years ago), 13% for purchased services, 5% for supplies and .25% for equipment. Of the 82% for personnel, 19% is for support staff, 5.56% for building administration, 73.5% for teachers, and 2.07% for central administration. The percentage of budget paid for teachers at individual schools varies from 68% at the High School to 76% at Orchard and Central Schools. Supplies average about 5% at all schools and equipment less than 1% at all schools. The High School will see a 5.9 equivalent reduction in teachers in this budget. It is anticipated that there will be a slight decrease in the number of students from Grand Isle in the coming year, so there will be less tuition revenue. South Burlington may, however, get some State aid. In the current budget, $16,591,930 will be generated from taxes, $1,412,071 from other earnings, $1,105,569 from State and Federal programs, and $960,795 from debt service. The total tax rate will be $2.22. Ms. Clift asked if cuts at the High School are expected to be permanent or whether teachers will be reinstated in the next few years. Supt. Chattman said he didn't see this as a short term problem and was not optimistic. The areas in which cuts have been made are Business Education, Family Living, English and Social Studies. He said they hope to be able to reinstate instructional programs as soon as possible. Mr. Crevier noted that the schools started this year $192,000 in the red. He asked the status of this at mid-year. Supt. Chattman said they didn't start in debt. The estimate that is what will happen, so they have taken steps to reduce spending. He noted that one cause of problems is additional snow plowing. Ms. Frederick noted that there may be some significant offsets including electricity costs which are significantly down. There were also a few more tuition students than anticipated last year. She said the current projection is for a deficit of about $30,000. Mr. Crevier noted that the Free Press had written that the schools relied on a "contingency fund" which is now gone. Supt. Chattman said they haven't had a contingency fund for two years. Mr. Crevier said the Free Press also said there had been overspending. Supt. Chattman said there were no revenues to meet obligations. Mr. Crevier asked how the increase in program supplies balances with the decision not to purchase 8th grade math texts. Supt. Chattman said the math texts were cut before the increase was calculated. Ms. Buley asked if funds are left over, do they get applied to the next budget. Supt. Chattman said they go to reduce the deficit. Ms. McGurn said she was dismayed to see buckets below soggy ceiling panels in the High School and asked what is going to happen. Ms. Frederick said there is a plan to replace all roofs. Because of the kind of winter we have had, there hasn't been time available to fix the roofs. She said there is money in the budget for repairs as soon as the work can be done. Mr. Flaherty noted that action yesterday in the Legislature will help South Burlington as the state may become responsible for $30,000 interest on a debt. Supt. Chattman that the state is, in effect, causing this problem. Another member of the audience asked why $600,000 has been cut from the High School and only $400,000 from the Elementary schools. Ms. Frederick said partly because of the increase in the number of students. Supt. Chattman said this also includes 2 special teachers for 2 special students. That money is not in this year's budget but will be in next year's. Mr. Sadowski, speaking on behalf of a group of concerned parents, said they appreciate the hard work on budget cuts but they have come to the conclusion that cuts are too deep and put the excellence of the schools on the line. This group intends to petition to put an item for additional funds on the ballot. Mr. Sadowski read the wording of the item into the record as follows: Shall the South Burlington School District be authorized to annually appropriate for a period of three years (FY97, FY98, FY99), an amount of $435,786 over and above the approved operating budget for the sole and exclusive purposes of: a) restoring and maintaining the core programs in all schools as recommended by the school principals; and b) advancing the use of technology in the schools - expending at least $100,000 of such amount annually for this purpose? Mr. Sadowski said they believe this can help restore some of the cuts and allow the community time to plan. Mr. Hafter said the City Attorney's opinion is that specific spending needs to be outlined. Mr. Murray said he disagreed with the statement that the cuts jeopardize the health of the school system. Another member of the audience noted the stipulation in the Charter that spending can't exceed a budgeted amount by more than 2% without going to the voters. She said that according to her figures, the school budget overspent this year by 3.9%. Supt. Chattman said there are several exceptions to the stipulation, including spending for Special Ed. If those exceptions are taken out, the overspending is not over 2%. Mr. Crevier said that he has repeatedly asked for the previous year's revenues to be shown in addition to expenses. He felt this would give more accountability. He also noted many figures where certain amounts have been budgeted and the same amount is estimated to be spent at the end of the year. He asked if it is possible to have instead of this the actual expenditures as of a certain date. Ms. Frederick said she would have to investigate to see if that could be done. Mr. Murray then moved to send the budget to the printer as presented tonight. Mr. Flaherty seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 2. Review Minutes of 26 October 1995: Mr. Murray moved to approve the Minutes of 26 October 1995 as written. Mr. Cimonetti seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 3. Other Business: Supt. Chattman invited all to attend an open house at the school construction projects on April 17. School Buses will transport attendees from school to school. As there was no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.