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Town Report and Budget
Town Report
Each February, in anticipation of Town Meeting, the Town of Manchester publishes a Town Report. The Town Report includes the report of officers of the Town, financial information, the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, and a list of elected and appointed Town officials.
Starting in 2010, the Town Report is divided into two parts - Part A and Part B. Part A mailed to all postal patrons of zip codes 05254 and 05255, includes the proposed budgets for the school district and municipal government, tax information, Town Meeting Warning, minutes from previous Town Meetings and contact information. Part B includes reports of officers and not-for-profits, financial reports and information, and a list of appointed and elected Town officials.
Part B can be picked up at Town Meeting, and beginning at Kilburn's Convenience Store, Town Hall (Town Clerk and Town Manager's offices), Discount Beverages and the Mark Skinner Library. Residents may also request that Part B be mailed to them by contacting Ioana Drew at 362-1313 (option 2) or emailing i.drew@manchester-vt.gov. This method is designed to save the taxpayers money and reduce paper consumption.
To view the 2011 and 2012 Town Report (Part A and Part B) please see below:
The Selectboard dedicates the Town Report to a group of citizens or individuals in the Town that have made significant contributions to the Town. Since 1992 past honorees include:
- 2012 - The Roundabout Project
- 2011 - Fire Chief Philip "Grub" Bourn and Tropical Storm Irene responders
- 2010 - Don and Nancy Otis
- 2009 - Police Chief Manfred ("Fred") A. Wessner
- 2008 - Doug and Cynthia Kilburn
- 2007 - World War Two Veterans
- 2006 - Ron and Cheryl Wilcox
- 2005 - Manchester Fire Department Members
- 2004 - Stanley S. Hinkley
- 2003 - Mary Hard Bort
- 2002 - Jeff Wilson, former Town Manager
- 2001 - Doug Shaw, former member of the Planning Commission
- 2000 - Howard Wechsler, Zoning Board of Adjustment Chair
- 1999 - Betty A. Tobin, Town employee
- 1998 - I. Stanford Zecher, Jr.
- 1997 - Barbara Cross
- 1996 - Ferdinand "Nundy" Bongartz
- 1995 - Madeline and Clifford "Doc" Harwood
- 1994 - Howard Dailey, Manchester Fire Department
- 1993 - Oscar Johnson Jr.
- 1992 - Chris Swezey, Manchester Fire Department
FY 2014 Town Budget:
The Fiscal Year 2014 budget could be coined the Year of Recovery after busy fiscal years 2012 and 2013. The Roundabout project will be completed in the spring of 2013 and the Park House project will be completed in February 2013. Moreover, during the last several fiscal years, the Town has invested a tremendous amount of money and energy into infrastructure improvements. Unlike fiscal years 2012 and 2013, the Fiscal Year 2014 budget focuses on operations, maintenance and long-term and short-term planning efforts. In addition, increased costs related to personnel, benefits and debt service have consumed much of the available revenues for Fiscal Year 2014.
Fiscal Year 2014 will be heavy on planning. As you know, the Town will be partnering with Vermont Council on Rural Development to undergo a community wide visioning process. There is also significant interest in removing utility poles on historic Main Street between Bonnet Street and Merchants Bank and the Town recently applied, and will likely receive, a planning grant to update costs and plans related to enhanced streetscaping and pedestrian access on Depot Street from Cottage Street to Center Hill Road. These projects, and others, will be fully detailed in the upcoming Capital Improvement Program and projected Fiscal Year 2015 budget, to be completed in January and February of 2013.
SUMMARY OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES BY DEPARTMENT
|
Department |
FY 2013 Rev. |
FY 2013 Exp. |
FY 2014 Rev. |
FY 2014 Exp. |
|
Legislative |
$0 |
$2,000 |
$0 |
$1,500 |
|
Administrative |
$5,100 |
$450 |
$7,100 |
$500 |
|
Finance |
$100 |
$2,500 |
$100 |
$2,500 |
|
Assessing |
$400 |
$1,700 |
$400 |
$1,700 |
|
Planning & Zoning |
$21,350 |
$28,025 |
$25,350 |
$23,000 |
|
Public Works |
$346,000 |
$410,750 |
$345,400 |
$413,000 |
|
Police |
$55,300 |
$85,300 |
$47,850 |
$90,050 |
|
Fire |
$0 |
$50,050 |
$0 |
$42,650 |
|
Emergency |
$0 |
$7,750 |
$0 |
$4,750 |
|
Parks & Recreation |
$124,250 |
$125,550 |
$141,500 |
$124,100 |
|
Health Officer |
$50 |
$250 |
$50 |
$250 |
|
Town Clerk |
$85,710 |
$8,100 |
$89,660 |
$8,600 |
|
Elections |
$0 |
$7,000 |
$0 |
$2,900 |
|
Town Hall/PSF |
$0 |
$84,325 |
$0 |
$87,340 |
|
General |
$3,406,621 |
$817,768 |
$439,150 |
$716,998 |
|
Personnel |
$0 |
$1,779,613 |
$0 |
$1,803,304 |
|
Allocable (Benefits) |
$0 |
$707,550 |
$0 |
$773,750 |
|
Capital |
$51,000 |
$3,279,071 |
$8,000 |
$320,000 |
|
Local Option |
$1,206,000 |
$0 |
$1,115,000 |
$0 |
|
Town Voted |
$0 |
$189,931 |
$0 |
$186,931 |
|
Vanderbilt Settle. |
|
$21,000 |
- |
- |
|
Park House Debt |
|
$35,706 |
- |
$117,436 |
|
TOTAL |
$5,301,881 |
$7,644,389 |
$2,219,560 |
$4,721,259 |
|
Property Taxes |
$2,342,508 |
- |
- |
$2,501,699 |
|
Sewer Department |
$508,050 |
$502,407 |
$418,370 |
$415,490 |
|
Water Department |
$758,900 |
$755,174 |
$658,600 |
$655,329 |
The approved Fiscal Year 2014 budget raises $2,501,699 from property taxes. Compared to Fiscal Year 2013, at $2,342,508, this represents an increase of $159,191 or 6.8% (original budget increased $195,761 or 8.3%). Most notably, more than 50% of this increase, $81,730, is related to debt service related to the Park House above and beyond Fiscal Year 2013 expenditures. The Fiscal Year 2014 budget also recommends a 67% decrease, $121,000, in the combined use of reserve funds from the Allocated Surplus Fund and the Taxpayer Relief Reserve Fund. This reduction in revenue places additional pressure on property tax, but is necessary in order to preserve and protect the Funds.
PROPERTY TAX LEVY BY FISCAL YEAR
|
YEAR |
TAX LEVY ($) |
$ +/- |
% +/- |
|
2004 |
$1,623,796 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2005 |
$1,751,377 |
+$127,581 |
+7.86% |
|
2006 |
$1,879,972 |
+$128,595 |
+7.34% |
|
2007 |
$2,077,582 |
+$197,610 |
+10.51% |
|
2008 |
$2,079,569 |
+$1,987 |
+0.10% |
|
2009 |
$2,143,791 |
+$64,222 |
+3.09% |
|
2010 |
$2,233,728 |
+$89,937 |
+4.20% |
|
2011 |
$2,223,406 |
-$10,322 |
-0.46% |
|
2012 |
$2,245,683 |
+$22,277 |
+1.00% |
|
2013 |
$2,342,508 |
+$96,825 |
+4.31% |
|
2014 |
$2,506,699 |
+$159,191 |
+6.79% |
Individuals with questions or comments about the FY 2014 budget can email John O'Keefe, Town Manager, at j.okeefe@manchester-vt.gov or call (802) 362-1313 (option 2).
The Town of Manchester operates on a fiscal year that begins on July 1 of each year and ends on the following June 30. The Town Report includes the proposed budget for the next fiscal year.
Budget Process Overview
In 2008 the Town of Manchester Selectboard adopted an innovative two year budgeting process. According to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT), Manchester is one of the only municipalities in Vermont that currently utilizes a two year budget planning process. The second year of the two year budget process is for planning purposes only and is not included in the Town Meeting vote or Town Report. The budget submitted by the Town Manager on December 11, 2009 includes recommendations for Fiscal Year 2011 and 2012.
The following is a typical budget schedule:
- In August Selectboard approves Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that details the Town's capital needs for six fiscal years
- In September the Town Manager solicits budget proposals from heads of departments through a document called the "budget call letter"
- In October heads of departments submit budget proposals to the Town Manager with supporting documentation
- In October and November the Town Manager works with heads of departments to develop Town Manager's budget recommendations to the Selectboard
- In December the Town Manager submits the budget recommendation to Selectboard
- In mid-December the Selectboard holds public meeting to review budget recommendation submitted by Town Manager and to accept public comments
- In January the Selectboard approves the Selectboard budget
- In February the Selectboard budget is printed in Town Report
- In late February or early March Town Meeting discusses and votes on Selectboard budget
- In July the Town management team begins to implement the Town Meeting approved budget