Town of Shaftsbury

Selectboard Proposed FY ’08 – ’09

Budget Notes

 

Comments:

Minimum Wage Change: As of January 1st, 2008, the State’s minimum wage changed from $7.53 to $7.68 per hour.

 

Travel Reimbursement: This budget proposes raising the mileage reimbursement rate from the current 48.5 cents per mile to the IRS mileage allowance of 50.5 cents per mile. Town officials are reimbursed for mileage when using personal vehicles for town business.

 

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

Auditors: Reduction of wages line item based on actual time last year.

 

Board of Civil Authority: Increase is the result of 2008 primary and presidential elections.

 

Cole Hall (Town Offices): Increase includes a 2% cost of living adjustment for the janitor and operating supplies.

 

Delinquent Tax Collector: Decrease based on supplies needed.

 

Development Review Board: Decrease in meeting recording clerk’s time and increase in the zoning administrator’s wages.

 

Employee Benefits: Increases include FICA based on salaries and wages, unemployment insurance rate due to both the Town’s and the VLCT Trust’s loss history, health insurance premiums were considerably less than in past years but up nonetheless and (note that plan participants contribute 10% of the full cost of the health plan). Short-term disability is down this year.

 

Listers (Assessor): Increase in salary and wages rate and mileage reimbursement rate. Decrease in Reappraisal Reserve Fund amount. We believe we are in good shape to pay for the upcoming reappraisal.

 

Planning: Decrease in meeting recording clerk’s time.

 

Selectboard: No change overall.  Increases include 5% for the Town Administrator’s salary (allocated based on a performance evaluation), hours for recording clerk, office equipment (lease of a new photocopier and a new computer) and dues and subscriptions. Decreases include reduction of Insurance and Bond, professional services and interest expense (we received pre-bates in advance from the state so did not have to borrow in anticipation of taxes).

 

Town Treasurer: Increase of 6% for salary and wages of the Town Treasurer.

 

Town Tree Warden: Decrease in salary and wages

 

PUBLIC SAFETY

Animal Control: Increase due to veterinary expense and increased need for animal control officer to send animals to the veterinary. 

 

Emergency Management: Increase in operating supplies that include purchase of a desk and file cabinet for office at the Depot Road Fire Station.

 

Fire Department: Small decrease overall that includes a reduction in communication and training to offset increases in truck fuel and utilities. Joint purchasing will reduce the cost of firehouse fuel.

 

Fire Warden: No change.

 

Law Enforcement: Increase in constable coverage.

 

PUBLIC WORKS

Highway Administration: Increase includes: 5% for salaries and wages - 3% is a cost of living increase and 2% is a merit increase granted based on annual performance reviews. We had a vacant position for a while last year which is why the line item shows 7%. Overtime is hard to predict and based on the weather. Decreases are in footwear, physicals, and drug testing

 

Highway Construction and Maintenance: Overall no change; Increases in cost of Gravel, Salt and Chloride are balanced against decreases in subcontract costs (roadside mowing and grader work in the spring and fall), leveling and sealing, bridges and guardrails, and paving. The new type of gravel used is fractured and holds the road together better. Paving is planned for Ledgely Drive, Westview Place, and Stevens Lane.

 

Note: The line-item Capital Improvement Projects reflects the following highway improvement projects:

1.      Myers Road (hill section near Route 7A intersection) road widening and drainage improvements.

2.      Installing a new box culvert on LaClair Road.

 

Highway Equipment Maintenance: Increase is due primarily to gas, diesel and oil costs and the addition of the first lease payment to replace Truck #1 as recommended in our Equipment Replacement Plan. Note: Equipment maintenance is budgeted based on the age and condition of each piece of equipment. Lease payments are now reflected here rather than in the Equipment Reserve Fund as these are obligations we have incurred.  

 

Highway Garage: Increases here consist of the addition of the professional services line item for the hiring of engineering consultants for project design.

 

Landfill/Recycling Center: Increases here include wages for the Town employee at the Transfer Station as well as increasing the TAM Management Fee by approximately $5,000 to pay for the transfer station to operate three days a week. (Last year, the Selectboard budgeted a decrease in transfer station operations from three days per week to two days per week in an effort to save the Town money. Based on resident feedback, however, the hours were never changed.

With the landfill capped, we now have the annual costs of methane well monitoring to add to the budget. Subcontract costs includes twice yearly tub grinding ($2,000/each) of brush, as required by our state certification. It also include mowing of the landfill cap (required) and surrounding transfer station property. We have opted to reuse existing transfer station stickers so this expense can be eliminated. Professional services represent the cost of the semi-annual groundwater monitoring, as required by the State. Solid Waste Removal costs are offset by revenues from the Pay-As-You-Throw system. Landfill capping debt service represents payment #2 of 5 on the $150,000 loan for additional landfill capping funds approved by voters in July 2006.

 

Park and Cemetery: Increases here are the result of maintenance needs of aging facilities at Howard Park and the addition of the full cost of cemetery maintenance (some of which is offset by Trustee of Public Fund monies).

 

BALLOT ARTICLES

Appropriations have been placed on the ballot as requested by the various non-profit organizations. One new organization is requesting funding by the Town: Grandview Cemetery Association.  

 

Reserve Funds

Equipment (Highway) Reserve Fund: The Town is moving toward the lease rather than outright purchase of equipment. Lease payment obligations are now shown in the Town’s operating budget rather than as Reserve Fund requests.

 

Grader Reserve Fund is used for the eventual replacement of the grader. 

 

Fire Warden Truck Reserve Fund: is used for the eventual replacement of the Fire Warden Brush Truck. 

 

Fire Equipment Reserve Fund: Lease payment obligations are now shown in the Town’s operating budget rather than as Reserve Fund requests.

 

Cole Hall Reserve Fund. This year’s allocation is going towards the repair or replacement of the roof. Grant funding will also be sought, in which case this fund would leverage additional money.

 

Garage Reserve Fund. This new reserve fund is for the repair and the eventual replacement of the Town Highway Garage.

 

Landfill Reserve Fund.   As the landfill is now capped, this reserve fund is no longer necessary. The cost of debt service on the 5 year loan approved by voters is in the operating budget as are the ongoing costs of monitoring and maintenance.

 

Sidewalk Reserve Fund. Money allocated to this fund will be set aside for the development of new sidewalks and the rehabilitation of existing sidewalks in the Town. As in the past, grant funding will be sought to supplement this fund.

 

Paving Reserve Fund. We will be applying for State and Federal paving grants to help pay for long term paving projects.  Since these grants normally require that the Town pay a percentage of the costs, we must have funds set aside in the Paving Reserve Fund if we are to take advantage these grants.

 

Economic Development. This money will allow the Economic Development Committee to fund studies of ways to improve the quality of life, increase the Town’s tax base, and develop new and existing businesses in Shaftsbury.  Money allocated this year will go towards the following projects: 1) South Shaftsbury Village Center designation and 2) Howard Park to Lake Paran Trail development.

 

OUTSIDE REVENUES

Employee Health Care Cost-Sharing reflects the 10% that all employees and public officials on the health insurance plan will contribute toward the cost of their plan.

 

Pay-as-you-throw Revenues represents a decrease in solid waste disposal.

 

Hazardous Waste Day Income reflects an increase in the Town surcharge to participate in Shaftsbury’s Hazardous Waste Day event from $1,000 to $1,500 per event. This year, the Town of Stamford will participate along with Pownal.