Hello South Burlington,
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. It provides my family intentional time together to think and talk about that for which we are thankful. The opportunity to be a part of this community is at the top of my list this year!
In the municipal world, this time of year also means budgeting! On December 5, 2022 I have the honor of presenting the Leadership Team’s proposed FY24 municipal budget to the City Council. The Council will then spend two months vetting this proposal, making changes, and ultimately approving what will go to the voters on Town Meeting Day. Below is our schedule of budget presentations. We encourage the community to attend these Council meetings, participate virtually, or watch the presentations afterwards. This is a great way to hear from our local leaders on their service delivery to the community. Ever wonder how many miles of road our Public Works’ crews plow a year? Or how many of our Police calls are for retail theft? Or how many hours of Recreation programming we offer a month? Tune in!
December 5th
- I will present the overall City budget as well as our Administration (City Manager, Clerk, Physical Plant, Tax/Assessing, IT, Legal, Planning & Zoning, and Finance) budget.
- Holly Rees will present our Recreation and Parks budget.
- Jennifer Murray will present the Library budget.
- Also this night the Council will hold a Public Hearing on a potential Tax Increment Financing bond vote.
December 19th
- Tom DiPietro will present the Public Works Department budget.
- Ilona Blanchard will present the Community Development budget.
- Also this night the Council will consider putting a bond vote on the ballot for improvements to the Bartlett Bay Wasterwater Treatment Facility.
January 3rd
- Fire Chief Steven Locke will present the Fire and Emergency Medical Services budget.
- Police Chief Shawn Burke will present the Police, Dispatch, and Community Justice Center budget.
- Also this night the Council will discuss the overall budget.
January 17th
- The Council will hold a Public Hearing on the FY24 Proposed budget and consider what to move forward to the voters on Town Meeting Day.
I hope you can join us!
Finally, December 2 is Deputy City Manager Andrew Bolduc’s last day with the City of South Burlington. Andrew and his wife are moving to Maryland for their next adventure. After growing up in South Burlington, Andrew joined the City as City Attorney in the fall of 2016. While in this role, he modernized legal services, built significant trust with employees and managers, and represented the City in advancing community priorities through City Center infrastructure and development agreements, drafting and defending regulations that support affordable housing, and in land conservation real estate transactions. For the last year and a half, I have had the joy of working alongside him to lead the City and support our Team. Each day Andrew has focused on what is best for South Burlington residents, how we provide equitable services to all, and how we maintain exceptional customer service while being financially responsible. I will miss his counsel. Please join me in thanking Andrew for his service to the residents of South Burlington.
As always, if you have questions or ideas to share, please feel free to reach out to me at jbaker@southburlingtonvt.gov or at (802) 846-4100.
My best,
Jessie