BY STEVEN JUPITER
BRANDON—On Monday night, the Brandon selectboard approved the proposed FY24 budget that it will send to the voters in March. The total amount proposed to be raised by taxes is $2,737,260.00, representing a 0.9% increase over FY23.
Board Chair Seth Hopkins praised the hard work of the Board, the Town Manager, and the Budget Committee in preparing the budget.
“I was worried we’d be looking at serious difficulties meeting expenses,” Hopkins said. But we’re still able to take care of our staff. We’re able to do capital things with the 1% local option tax. We’re only asking 1% more from taxpayers this year.”
Though most of the town’s revenue still comes in through property taxes, a significant portion is now received through the 1% local option tax levied on goods, food, and lodging.
The proposed budget includes a 5% wage increase for non-union town employees, designed to retain staff at a time when Vermont is experiencing a labor shortage.
Hopkins also indicated that the selectboard had authorized a $200,000 withdrawal from the town’s unrestricted general reserve fund. $100K of those monies will be used to directly offset expenses in the budget, thereby reducing the amount of money to be raised by taxes. The other $100K will be used to pay off municipal leases on equipment, such as the sidewalk machine and an F-550 utility truck. Hopkins estimated that without this drawdown, the proposed budget would’ve been 7% higher than last year’s instead of just 0.9%.
The town usually keeps $450K – $900K in cash reserves, which represents 15% – 30% of its typical budget. Hopkins stated that even with the withdrawal, the reserve would still be within its target range. Hopkins also stated that he was concerned that the town was holding onto more cash than it needed.
“A lot of other towns would envy our situation,” Hopkins said. “Preparing the budget is a 2-month process involving 15 people over 100 hours of meetings. Not everyone agreed on everything, but I think we’re presenting a thoughtful, balanced budget that respects the taxpayers.”
The proposed budget was approved 4 to 1, with Selectman Tim Guiles the sole nay vote.
In other business:
- The Brandon Sewer Commission approved $20K to repair the pumps at Country Club Road. According to Town Manager David Atherton, the electrical panel that controls the pumps had given out, necessitating manual operation of the pumps by town employees.
- Tree Warden Neil Silins stated that he was working on a plan to manage the town’s shade trees, which are defined by state law as ornamental or shade trees planted by the municipality in public spaces. Vermont law authorizes a town’s tree warden to survey all such trees within the town and come up with a preservation plan. Silins informed the committee that he could deliver his plan this week.
