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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/04/2019 CITY COUNCIL & SCHOOL BOARD 4 MARCH 2019 JOINT PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING The South Burlington City Council and School Board held a joint public informational meeting on Monday, 4 March 2019, at 7:00 p.m, in the Cafeteria, Tuttle Middle School, Dorset Street. Members Present: City Council: H. Riehle, Chair; T. Barritt, T. Chittenden, D. Kaufman School Board: E. Fitzgerald, Chair; M. Lalonde, B. Burkhardt; student representatives Also Present: K. Dorn, City Manager; T. Hubbard, Deputy City Manager; D. Young, Superintendent of Schools; A. Bolduc, City Attorney; D. Kinville, City Clerk; Chief S. Burke, Police Department; Chief T. Francis, Fire Department; J. Rabidoux, Public Works Director; I. Blanchard, Project Manager; H. Rees, Recreation Director; P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; C. Holm, Director of Community Engagement & Innovation; S. Dory, Finance Officer; J. Murray, Librarian; S. Moore, H. R. Director; Rep. A. Pugh; members of the community 1. Welcome: Ms. Riehle welcome members of the community and explained the nature of the meeting. 2. Pubic Information hearing on public questions and budget articles to be voted on by Australian ballot, 17VSA Section 2680(g): a. Presentation of proposed Municipal FY2020 budget: Ms. Riehle explained the assumptions that went into the preparation of the Municipal budget including: 1. Keeping the tax increase below 3%. The proposed increase is 2.84% 2. Maintaining the current level of service 3. Meeting contractual obligations 4. Meeting all bonded debt, including funds for development of City Center 5. Meeting all annual assessments (e.g., Green Mountain Transit, Winooski Valley Park District, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, CCTV) 6. Supporting City Council initiatives including: affordable housing, energy efficiency, open space project funding, mental health collaboration between the Police Department and Howard mental Health (a joint effort of 7 communities). Mr. Hubbard then reviewed specifics of the proposed budget as follows: Total all funds.............. $60,006,766. General Fund................. 24,566,750. General Fund Revenues... 8,440,420 Tax rate increase..................... 2.84% Mr. Hubbard explained that the “total all funds” figure includes operational costs, enterprise fund (water, sewer, stormwater) and special funds (e.g., TIF projects). He then reviewed the expense factors that contributed to the budget including: a. CIP projects (vehicles, paving, parks, sidewalks, etc.) b. Pension contribution increase of 6% c. Health insurance costs (approximately $2,000,000 of which employees pay a portion) d. Projected agreements with the 3 bargaining units (Fire, Police, City Hall/Public Works) e. Funding level for City Center reserve fund f. Additional staffing (IT network administrative support and planning for the retirement of the current IT administrator and 2 full-time Firefighters). Revenue factors include: a. Grand List growth of 1.5% b. Relatively neutral revenue budget c. Use of grant money from State, Federal and impact fees for various projects d. Approved bonding for open space projects and communications Mr. Hubbard then outlined some additional factors contributing to the budget: a. Deferral of some CIP projects b. No Stabilization Fund line item this year c. No increase to the sick-bank fund Mr. Hubbard then reviewed some tax rate history and showed how South Burlington compares with similar nearby communities. For the average condo valued at $232,790, the increase for the year would amount to $33.99. For the average primary single family residence valued at $337,856, the increase for the year would amount to $49.33. Public comment and questions followed Mr. Hubbard’s presentation as follows: Comment: Everyone’s income doesn’t increase every year, but taxes do. Mr. Hubbard; That is the challenge, to maintain the level of service residents expect. Less than a 3% increase would result in reducing services. Comment: At some time, we have to stop with “this open space stuff.” Ms. Riehle: That is a value held by a lot of people in the community. Comment: They are rich people, and others get stuck. Cut parks, not essential services. Mr. Barritt: Some of the open space funds have gone to preserve parkland for the community. He cited work being done to determine how to use some of those lands. The city is also trying to preserve some “wild spaces,” land that would otherwise be developed. Question: What has been done to reduce budget items? Mr. Rabidoux: Cited the funds being spent on the sewer project which will immediately save the city money and will continue to save significant money long into the future. He also noted the change to LED lighting which is significantly reducing electricity costs. b. Presentation of Proposed School District FY2020 budget: Superintendent Young said that budget guidelines were set by the School Board and a budget advisory committee. There has also been public feedback at School Board meetings. Budget objectives include: 1. Providing opportunities to support students into the future 2. Continuous improvement model to respond to student needs 3. Providing professional development 4. Safety and security. Supt. Young cited the School System’s high rating on the national level. He also noted that 80% of students go on to higher education. 70% of High School juniors participate in college‐level courses, the existence of “virtual learning” for programs the district does not provide, Advanced Placement courses, and high-level math programs. Supt Young then noted that the proposed budget increase is 4.15%, 2% of which is related to salary and benefits and 1% to tuition agreements for students in various placements outside the district, vocations tuitions, lease payments on buses, etc. The Superintendent also noted that revenues have decreased (e.g., Act 85 health care and a reduction in special education funding because of the block-funded program). There is also a correction for an error made in last year’s budget. Additional personnel include 3 people in Early Essential Education at Marcotte School which currently does not have a program. There is also a reduction of 9 paraeducators in favor of 5 special educators. Appointments include a .5 Guidance Counselor at the High School, one full-time security person, and a .73 FTE office of business/finance person to address the new accounting system at the direction of the State. Total expenditures for the district..... $51,746,533. Income.................................................... 11,304,240. Balance to be raised by taxes.................... 40,442,293. Supt. Young noted that unlike the rest of the State, the student population in South Burlington is increasing, and there is another small increase forecast for next year. Public questions and comments were then solicited and received as follows: Ms. Clift: Noted that some parents are afraid to speak out about issues for fear of retaliation. People are concerned with salary increases when salaries are already high. Supt. Young: Stressed that everyone and all comments welcome. Ms. Fitzgerald: Stressed that she is always available to talk individually with people and answer their questions. She also noted the presence of the 2 students who advise the Board on student issues. Question: Will there be more students served by EEE? Supt. Young: Yes. There will also be a reduction in costs because there will no longer be driving time paid to people who had to travel to reach students. Comment: A member of the public noted the unsettling figures for unfunded pension liability in the state. Mr. Dorn and Ms. Riehle: That does not apply to the City’s pension fund which is currently funded at 104% because of a loan taken out a number of years ago to address that issue. c. Presentation of non-budget ballot items: Mr. Lalonde noted the non-binding referendum (Article V) to advise the State Legislature to raise the age to buy cigarettes from 18 to 21. He cited the correlation between smoking and poor academic performance. A similar article passed 2-1 in Burlington last year. It has already passed the Vermont Senate and is expected to pass in the House. Passage in South Burlington could help contribute to passage. The bill would also outlaw the selling of electric cigarettes on-line. Ms. Riehle then explained the 2 tax-related city ballot items. She stressed the City Council’s desire not to over‐utilize the property tax for projects the Council is supporting. The proposed addition to the local option taxes (sales and rooms & meals) and the ½‐cent tax on car rentals are two ways to do this. Ms. Riehle also outlined the steps needed to make these taxes a reality including approval by the Legislature and signing by the Governor following a positive public vote. Ms. Riehle also stressed that the local option tax increase would be in support of 3 projects: a recreation center, a performing arts center, and a pedestrian/bike bridge over the interstate. There would have to a public vote to approve any of these projects and to activate the tax, if approved. The tax would also be sunsetted when the particular project(s) was paid for. The rental car tax would go exclusively to pay for road improvements. Mr. Chittenden spoke in opposition to the local option sales tax increase though he would support the increase to the rooms and meals tax and the car rental tax. He fully supports funding the recreation center through the property tax. Public comment followed: Mr. Albrecht: Agreed with Mr. Chittenden regarding the sales tax. He also felt there should be regional participation in a recreation and arts center as other towns have the same needs. Mr. Kaufman stressed that a positive vote doesn’t mean anything will happen. The aim is to find out what voters think. He said the bridge over the Interstate is a safety issue. It would be 80% federally and state funded with very little local funding. The Recreation Center would address the city’s responsibility to provide recreation for the community, and there is currently zero indoor recreation space in the city. It is a top priority and has to be paid for some way. Mr. Kaufman felt the Arts Center could use the same model as the hockey rinks used in securing a public/private partnership for funding. Comment: The bridge is a safety issue for students, so the University should pay some of the cost. Ms. Riehle: The city is discussing projects with the University. Comment: The language of the local option tax increases implies that this has already been passed and is confusing to voters. Ms. Riehle: Agreed, but said it is the language required by law. Comment: The City Council should get more information out there and get more people to turn out to vote. Ms. Riehle: Agreed but cited all the efforts of the Council to inform the public. Ms. Kinville; Noted that 20‐30% voter turn‐out for a March election is considered “great.” Comment: Get a good health care program for everyone. People don’t need so much of what they are paying for. 4. City Council consideration and possible vote on disbursements: Mr. Chittenden moved to approve the disbursements as presented. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed 4-0. As there was no further business to come before the Council and School Board, Mr. Chittenden moved to adjourn. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. ________________________________, Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.