On January 17, 2023 the City Council approved the FY24 City Budget to send to the voters on Town Meeting Day. You can review all the budget materials on our website (www.southburlingtonvt.gov) and view the Town Meeting Day City Ballot items here.
On Tuesday, March 7, 2023 voters will be asked to consider the proposed FY 2024 City of South Burlington budget. The total budget is $55,286,721.89 with $19,388,298.92 to be raised from property taxes. This budget achieves the following important goals for the City:
- Supports our ability to appropriately respond to the public safety needs of the community by restoring a Police Officer, Deputy Police Chief, and Firefighter/EMT position. Starting January 1, 2024, adds a second ambulance into service for the residents of and visitors to the City.
- Improves our ability to maintain our parks and open spaces.
- Restores a GIS/Data Analyst position to ensure data driven decision making.
- Incrementally invests in our Capital Improvement Plan.
- Invests American Rescue Plan Act dollars into one-time capital projects to ease the burden on the local property taxpayers.
To both continue core operations as they currently stand and to make these targeted investments to restore services, the proposed FY24 Budget results in a 5.75% or $.0268 tax rate increase. The average condo owner would see a $78.50 increase in the annual costs and the average single family homeowner would see an increase of $117.12.
Additionally, the City Council approved placing two bond votes on the Town Meeting Day ballot. If approved, these two bonds will not impact the property tax rate. They are:
- $15,086,430 to fund the final four Tax Increment Financing projects to include the Garden Street and Williston Road intersection, Williston Road Streetscape, the East West Crossing (bike and pedestrian bridge over I89, and the City Center Park Phase II
- $33,833,000 to fund improvements at the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility, Airport Parkway Wastewater Treatment Facility, and replace four pump stations
Please join us at an upcoming Public Informational Meeting to learn more! All will be held at City Hall.
February 14th – #LoveyourCity Town Meeting Day informational meeting (6 to 7 pm)
February 28th – Town Meeting Day informational meeting (6 to 7 pm)
March 6th – Public Hearing and Informational Meeting – City and School presentations (6:30 pm)
And, as always, you can contact me, Jessie Baker, at jbaker@southburlingtonvt.gov with any questions or ideas!