HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - Steering Committee - 01/24/2018STEERING COMMITTEE 24 JANUARY 2018
The South Burlington Steering Commi ee held a mee ng on Wednesday, 24 January 2018, at 7:00 p.m., inthe Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. MEMBERS PRESENT: City Council: H. Riehle (via phone), T. Barri , M. Emery, T. Chi enden, K. Dorn, City
Manager; School District: M. E. Fitzgerald, Ac ng Steering Commi ee Chair; A. McHenry, B. Burkhardt, D.Young, Superintendent of Schools ALSO PRESENT: T. Hubbard, Deputy City Manager; J. Aubin, School District; D. Bugbee
1. Comments & Ques ons from the public not related to the Agenda: No issues were raised.
2. Approval of the 26 September 2017 Steering Commi ee Mee ng Minutes: The Minutes of 26 September 2017 were approved by common consent.
3. Public Hearing on Proposed City Program Budget for 2018-2019: Mr. Hubbard reviewed the FY19 budget numbers as follows:
Total all Funds …………………………….. $53,392,056 Total General Fund Expenditures…. 23,686,098 Total General Fund Revenues ………. 8,413,924
Raised General Fund Tax Levy………. 15,272,174 Tax Levy Increase …………………………. 673,819 Tax Rate Increase …………………………. 3.84% Increase Over FY18 ………………………. 0.0190 cents
FY19 Proposed Rate …………………….. $0.5136 Mr. Hubbard then outlined the what was considered in preparing the proposed budget including:
City Council Guidance of approximately 3% Adding money back into the budget for items that had been cut out Mee ng the current level of service (Mr. Hubbard noted this budget does this but just marginally, andthere is a serious issue of whether this can be sustained)
Mee ng all contract obliga ons Mee ng bonded debt obliga onsSTEERING COMMITTEE26 SEPTEMBER 2017
PAGE 2 Suppor ng the CIP Funding annual assessments and other en es (e.g., County Courthouse, Solid Waste District, etc.)
Con nuing support to the Housing Trust Fund Funding the stewardship plan and reserve funds. The major impacts of the proposed budget include:
Grand List growth of ¾% Significant requests/projects in the CIP Pension Contribu on increase of $290,000
Health insurance increase of 12% ($218,000 impact) Projected agreements with three collec ve bargaining units Reduc ons in revenue items
Budget cuts include:
Some projects in the CIP (Mr. Hubbard stressed that this is not sustainable)
No stabiliza on fund contribu on Full recommended funding for the Stewardship Plan (only $75,000 funded) No new staff posi ons (there were 3 requests)
No increase to the sick-bank fund (a long-term liability)
Police cruiser replacement and fit-up Budget reduc ons (from what was requested):
Public Works fleet replacement (cut by $75,000) Social Services funding (cut by $25,000 – what is le will go to South Burlington organiza ons) Designated Reserve Fund (cut by $50,000)
City Center Reserve Fund (cut by $110,000)
Revenue factors impac ng the budget include:
Reduc on I revenue from fire and electrical inspec ons
Less money from grants and impact fees Discon nuing of tradi onal summer camp programs for the Recrea on Dept.STEERING COMMITTEE
24 JANUARY 2018
PAGE 3 Use of alloca on from approved bonding (open space projects and communica ons equipment bond).
Mr. Hubbard noted that an average condo valued at $231,000 would see an annual increase in taxes of $43.96. The average single home valued at $336,000 would see an annual tax increase of $63.86. Water use will cost$5.88 more for the year. Stormwater will increase $1.80 for the year. Sewer will increase $9.09 for the year.
Mr. Dorn noted that con nued ini a ves include: LEAN Process Shared Services
Regionaliza on Sustainability (projected Grand List growth, contracts, etc.) Ms. Bugbee expressed concern with the reduc on in social services funding and noted that agencies that are
not South Burlington based do provide significant services to South Burlington residents. Council membersshared that concern. Mr. Chi enden said he would like to have a ci zens’ review commi ee to evaluate allsocial services requests.
4. Discussion on Proposed City Bond Borrowing for the Bartle Bay Wastewater Facility System: Mr. Dorn explained that the Hadley Road area has been sewered by the City of Burlington. Burlington rateshave gone up so much that it makes sense for South Burlington to take over that func on. It will be financed
mostly by grants and sewer fees. 5. Discussion about the forma on of a Union Municipal District to support unifica on of publicsafety dispatch services:
Mr. Dorn explained that this has been a discussion item for 50 years. This year, 7 communi es will have it onthe ballot. If it is passed by voters in each community, each City Council will then have to agree to a feestructure.
Mr. Dorn said that safety is the chief concern. The proposed system will save 71 seconds on every call. STEERING COMMITTEE24 JANUARY 2018
PAGE 4 The municipal District will also be able to provide services to other non-member communi es via a contract.
6. Public Hearing on Proposed School District Program Budget for 2018-2019: Supt. Young reviewed the recommended budget objec ves including:
Providing student opportuni es and programs essen al for student success Providing professional development for staff Con nuing to u lize student assessment data Safeguarding the well-being of students and staff through maintenance of all 5 school buildings.
Supt. Young then reviewed the components of the tax rate calcula on as follows: Proposed expenditures up .85%
Es mated revenues up .04% “Yield” down 3.13% Common level of appraisal – no change Equalized pupils up 3.97%
Supt. Young noted that the increase in equalized pupils is very different from the experience elsewhere in thestate.
The Superintendent also stressed that figures could change based on posi ve legisla ve ac on a er the date ofthe budget vote. Supt. Young then reviewed tax rate history and staffing/enrollment at each of the city’s schools. He noted there
are 2 “con ngent teachers” in the budget, should they be needed. Notable budget items include:
Reduc on of $561,405 from new health plan implementa on Electric expenses reduced by $20,000 due to solar power from the new solar array at the Landfill Funding maintained for safety and security ($258,000) Refi ng of Library space ($150,000)
STEERING COMMITTEE24 JANUARY 2018PAGE 5
No new money into the Capital Reserve Balance – it remains at $300,000. Supt. Young directed a en on to the pages of student outcomes, achievements, etc., outlined by school.
7. Discussion on Proposed School district Bond Borrowing for Capital Projects: Supt. Young directed a en on to the list of projects included in the bond borrowing.
City Council members asked what the property tax increase would be if the School District wasn’t bonding forbuilding stewardship items. Ms. Fitzgerald said the increase would be about 4%. Supt. Young stressed thatdoing maintenance on an annual basis s ll has not kept up with the need. Ongoing building assessments haverevealed many items that have gone beyond their “useful lives.” Ms. Fitzgerald also noted that pu ng this in
the regular budget also inflates the cost per student.
Mr. Barri asked about the bathrooms at Munson Field. Supt. Young said they have been using port-a-po es,but in the recent project, the plumbing was done for bathrooms. The feeling is that having the bathrooms will
increase the rentability of the fields. Ms. Bugbee asked if the bathrooms will be fully accessible. Supt. Young
said they will be. Ms. Emery asked about paying for the bond. Supt. Young said the cost will be very low this year then will
increase. But payments will be less than if they were in the general budget because they will be spread out
over 20 years. 8. Other Business:
Ms. Bugbee suggested that the School Board Associa on video link be in the budget book as it explains thefactors that go into the budget. Mr. Aubin noted it is on the website and will be in the budget book.
Mr. McHenry suggested an exhibit showing the South Burlington tax changes alongside those of other
communi es. Supt. Young said they will try to do that; however, some communi es aren’t set yet. Mr. Barri raised the possibility of a non-binding referendum on raising the smoking age to 21. This could
happen in August or November. It could also happen via a binding Ordinance. Mr.
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McHenry said he has been in touch with legislators. A bill previously died in the Senate by a vote of 14-15. Senators Ashe and Pearson voted against it, and Mr. McHenry said he hoped to change their votes. Supt. Youngsaid the School Board hasn’t yet discussed it. Mr. McHenry said he felt it affects the outcomes for all students.
Mr. Dorn asked if the School District wanted any changes in the format of the pre-elec on informa onmee ng. Supt. Young said something similar to what has been done in the past is OK. Mr. Dorn said he wouldlook for a Moderator.
Mr. Dorn noted this is the third year of having budgets on the website and sending out postcards to that effect. He asked if members felt that should con nue. Ms. Emery felt people do need that reminder. Others felt it hasworked well.
As there was no further business to come before the Steering Commi ee, Ms. Emery moved to adjourn. Mr.McHenry seconded. Mo on passed unanimously, and the mee ng was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
__________________________________ Clerk