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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/20/1997STEERING COMMITTEE 20 MARCH 1997 The South Burlington Steering Committee held a meeting on Thursday, 20 March 1997, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: City Council: James Condos, Acting Steering Committee Chair; William Cimonetti, Terry Sheahan; Charles Hafter, City Manager School District: Bruce Chattman, Superintendent of Schools; Dennis Snyder, Theodore Manazir, Karen George, Kerry Incavo Also Present: Judith Maynard, Mary Lynn Riggs, Leo Brown, Marilyn Frederick, David Ford, Joan Britt 1. Presentation from Orchard School: Ms. Britt discussed plans for the new community playground to be located at Orchard School. The playground update is needed because of the age of the current facility and the concern for safety of equipment and the fall area. There has also been an increase in population. Ms. Britt then showed the rough plan for the new facility. It will include a soccer field with a walking/jogging path around it. There will also be quiet spaces, including a gazebo, picnic area, etc., and appropriate landscaping. There will be a special area for younger children and one for older children. A metal and plastic "amphitheater" will be included which could be used for outdoor instruction and a quiet area. Ms. Britt then showed photos of the types of equipment planner for the area. She encouraged members to thing of this as a community effort. They hope to get some city support in terms of site work. They are also looking to the community for donations of time and materials. They have raised $24,000 of an estimated $50,000 needed to complete the facility. Fund-raising efforts are scheduled, and they are hoping for an August construction start. 2. Presentation of City 1997-98 Budget: Mr. Hafter began by noting the impact the Brigham decision could have on the schools and the city. The city's $8,600,000 budget represents a 2.3% increase over last year and will result in an 82.7¢ tax rate. The Grand List has increased 2.7%, but this is reduced to a 1.5% net increase due to the phasing out of the equipment/inventory tax. Because of this, the maximum operating budget tax increase can be 1.5%. The operating budget could increase 10%. It will actually increasing 3%. The budget is thus in balance with Charter limitations. Mr. Hafter indicated the components of the total city tax rate. These include the operating tax, bonded debt, other entities, and a special highway appropriation. There is actually a decline in the bonded debt, and it is well within legal limits. Mr. Hafter then showed a tax rate comparison for the last 7 years. He credited Department Heads and city employees for holding down expenses. The property tax cost for the average city residence for city services is $620.25. This represents an average increase of 1.51% over the past 7 years. Highlights of the City's proposed budget include the following: a. Reappraisal costs (the new appraisal figures will be in place with next year's tax bill). b. E-911 Emergency Dispatch: the state is on its way to designing a system. This will require renumbering of many of the city's residences and businesses. There will be a central dispatch system for the whole county located at the Williston State Police Barracks. c. There are two new city positions: one new firefighter (at Station 2) and a new police officer. d. Capital Purchases: 3 new police cruisers (replacements) and new radios; the Library computer system (being funded by City, School, and private donations). Mr. Hafter noted the Library's receipt of a bequest from Mr. Paul Blanchette in the amount of $200,000. This has been put into a trust from which $10,000 is budgeted for next year. The money is designated for purchase of non-fiction books and related materials. e. The Fire Dept. will be making scheduled payments on the new pumpers and new tower truck. Mr. Hafter noted that April 19th will be the Fire Department's Community Appreciation Day which will include the dedication of the new tower truck and new defibrilators. It is hoped the new equipment will improve the city's fire rating which can bring down home insurance costs. f. New Highway Equipment includes a dump truck/salter, sidewalk plow, Explorer-type 4-wheel drive vehicle. There will also be a study for a garage improvement study. g. Work in the Dorset St. Park will include a second soccer field and increased tree care. The City has also ordered more banners for Dorset Street. There will be a 5% sewer rate increase. This will help to build a reserve to pay for the expansion of the Bartlett Bay Treatment Facility. There are two proposed ballot items. The first will eliminate the Water Commission and will transfer its functions to the City Manager and City Council. The second is a $435,000 bond to relocate the water main in Shelburne Rd. This will not result in an increase in water rates. Ms. George noted the difference in the quality of sidewalk plowing in the city and said it is often hard for people to maintain their balance. 3. School District Budget Supt. Chattman said this is the worst time in the community's history to have to go to the voters for additional funds, but they have to do so this year to meet very serious needs. He noted that the City sends 621,600,000 to Montpelier and gets back very little. The total budget for the Schools for 1997-8 is $19,900,079. They can raise from taxes state and federal revenues for specific programs, and other sources (rentals, etc.) A total of $18,522,284 This means they will be going to the voters to make up the additional $477,795. The current tax rate for the schools is 2.09 with debt service at 0.135. The total that would be allowable by Charter is 2.256. The request from the voters would be 0.065, for a total tax rate of 2.321. The School District will also be asking voters for $331,742 for a dedicated technology tax to upgrade technology at all schools. Supt. Chattman noted that the cost of technology is so high it is impossible for schools to raise that kind of money without this support. In 3 to 5 years, computers become obsolete, so they are now looking for two 3-year leases. They are hoping that the cost of technology will drop so at the end of 6 years they can fund this through the regular budget. Supt. Chattman noted that the Schools' need comes about due to lost revenues due to the repeal of the machinery/inventory tax and from an increase in the deductible for Special Ed reimbursement. The former amounts to $371,967, and the latter to $70,000. These two items approximate the amount being requested from the voters. In the area of cost containment, Supt. Chattman cited energy conservation at all schools, "enterprise programs" which are self-sustaining (such as food service), reduction in programs (more than $2,000,000), early retirement incentives, and management of personnel costs. There are also efforts to get new revenues from tuition students, EPSDT, and grants. Supt. Chattman then reviewed the quality indicators for 1994-98. These include: the completion of the strategic plan, foreign languages offered at the elementary level, an all-day Kindergarten program, multi-age options at each elementary school, the highest SAT scores in the state, the highest percentage of students (84%) in the county and state receiving qualifying scores for college credit in advanced placement, and a 96% graduation record. Cost containment efforts have resulted in larger class sized and a decrease in funds for supplies, materials and text books. There has also been a decline in the per pupil allocation. Supt. Chattman noted that 80% of the city's teachers get no step increase because they are at the top of the salary scale. Mr. Cimonetti said there is a public perception that salary/benefits for teachers have increased substantially, and this will have to be clarified. Supt. Chattman also noted the error in the Free Press indicating that 80% of the budget went to pay teachers. Total personnel costs are 81.22% of the budget. Teachers get 74% of that amount. He also noted that the state system does not encourage retirement, and many teachers are working long past age 55. There are hopes to address this situation at the legislative level. Supt. Chattman then reviewed what the proposed budget does: a. Meets Board's criteria and priorities b. Meets enrollment needs to maintain reasonable class sizes c. Provides for literacy and program support for students d. Provides for a safe, healthy environment e. Provides for special needs of children f. Provides support for district office and network g. Maintains current strategic initiatives, including work on standards and assessment h. Provides English as a second language support i. Supports the Student Assistance Program at the Middle School and High School j. Provides instructional assistance support at the elementary level. The budget does not include replacing many of the positions cut last year. New positions are related to increases in enrollment. The budget is allocated as follows: 59.87% teachers, 6.44% administration, 14.91 support staff, .65 equipment, 4.54 supplies, 13.58 services. Supt. Chattman noted that South Burlington has the longest school day and school year in the County. The budget is driven by Board criteria to meet all federal, state and contractual obligations and to support all existing services and programs that are in line with District educational objectives. There is also a commitment to identify efficiencies in operation and to look for alternate funding sources. District priorities include deficit reduction, more support for books, materials, and supplies, reduction in class sizes, support for technology, and reinstatement of freshman sports and activities (with private funding being sought for the last item). Contractual obligations of the district include voluntary cuts taken by individuals in the last budget year ($157,275), a joint commitment with the City to support library technology, retirement plan, horizontal and vertical movement on the salary scales, debt service, funding for state mandates, deficit reduction, legal costs, maintenance, community use of facilities, and tuition for students who attend the vocational/technical centers. Supt. Chattman then showed a graph indicating the increase in special needs enrollments. There are now 320 special needs children in the system as compared to 205 in 1991. This is a 56% increase. The number of students requiring English as a second language tutoring has increased from 28 to 109 in the same period. There has also been a 23% increase in general enrollment in this period. The cost per pupil in 1993-4 was almost $8,000. In 1997-8, it will be less than $7300. This does not include bonded debt. Ms. George noted a trend of teachers having to say, "No, I can't help you" to students because of very large class sizes. She was alarmed at the potential ripple effect of erosion of quality. Mr. Snyder noted teachers at the high school have been teaching extra classes on a voluntary basis this year. It won't happen again next year, so if the ballot item doesn't pass, there will be less offered for the same money next year. Mr. Hafter said the voters will want to know what will happen next year if they provide the added funds this year. Supt. Chattman noted that enrollments are projected to keep increasing. He cited several hundred homes approved for construction that haven't yet been built upon. Ms. Frederick then reviewed the request for the technology ballot item. She reviewed the numbers of computers at each school facility and noted this number is well below the recommended standard of 1 computer per 5 students. She also noted the advanced age of many of the computers. 62% of the existing equipment is old, outdated, and of limited capacity. The proposed program would teach keyboarding, word processing, presentations, telecommunications, ethics, simulations, etc. Ms. Frederick noted that every item that would be gotten would be tied to a standard. The cost of the technology package would result in a $150,000 valued home paying $44.55 a year. Mr. Snyder noted that the State used to pay 30% of the schools' budget. It now pays 2%. Mr. Cimonetti expressed concern with abandoning the Charter. Mr. Manazir replied that "extraordinary times demand extraordinary actions." Mr. Snyder noted they have only gone to the voters when they lose funding sources. The repeal of the machinery tax accounts for 80% of the ballot item. Ms. Incavo then moved to schedule a Public Hearing on the proposed City and School 1997-8 budgets for 10 April 1997 at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Snyder seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Review Minutes of 19 December 1997: Mr. Manazir moved to approve the Minutes of 19 December 1997 as written. Ms. Incavo seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Other Business: Mr. Condos asked if the School Site Committee has met. Supt. Chattman said it has and they are looking at potential sites. As there was no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 10:50 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.