Selectboard 1/6/26

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Selectboard Minutes 01-06-26 167 KB

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Town of Richmond 
Special Selectboard Budget Meeting
Minutes of January 6, 2026

Members Present: Bard Hill, Caitlin Filkins, Greg Rabideau, David Sander, Adam Wood

 

Absent: None

Staff Present: Josh Arneson, Town Manager; Duncan Wardwell, Deputy Town Manager; Susanne Parent, Town Clerk; Peter Gosselin, Highway Foreman; Kyle Leggett, Assistant Highway Foreman; Suzanne Krohn, Librarian

Others Present:  Recorded by MMCTV Erin Wagg, Dave Thomas, dpevans, Fran Thomas, Laurie Dana

MMCTV Video: https://youtu.be/FLwGlnZxtgU?si=R6J6mRKxQjZLCc1g 

Notes On Town Budget Process

•           The FY27 Budget will be voted on by Australian ballot on Town Meeting Day, March 3, 2026. The budget will not be voted “from the floor” and there will not be any opportunity to amend the budget once it is finalized and on the printed ballot.

•           The Selectboard is holding a budget meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 7pm. The final draft of the FY27 budget will be presented for feedback from the public. The Selectboard may make changes to the budget based on public comments if they see fit to do so. This is the last scheduled budget meeting before the budget is placed on the ballot.

Call to Order: 7:00 p.m.

 

Welcome by:  Wood

 

Public Comment:  None
  
Additions, Deletions or Modifications to Agenda:  None

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present


Review of draft FY27 Budget

Timestamp: 0:01

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Selectboard/Meetings/2026/01/3a1_FY2027_Budget_Presentation_-_1-6-26.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Selectboard/Meetings/2026/01/3a2_FY27_Capital_Plan___3A_12-15-25.xlsx

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Selectboard/Meetings/2026/01/3a3_FY27_Budget_Draft__3A_12-15-25_excel.xlsx

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Selectboard/Meetings/2026/01/3a4_FY27_Budget_Draft__3A_12-15-25_pdf.pdf

Arneson presented the FY2027_Budget_Presentation_-_1-6-26 slideshow from the packet.  Also see the Notes On Town Budget Process above.  

The Municipal tax rate was $0.5447 in FY26 and $0.5664 in FY27 (a 3.98% tax rate increase or an increase of $22 per $100,000 in Home Value).  This represents only 24% of the total projected Town and School Tax Rate for FY27 as the Homestead Education tax is projected at 76%.  If the Conservation Reserve Fund passes, then it will add $10 per $100,000 in Home Value.  If all the Social Services Allocations pass, then it will add $2.70 per $100,000 in Home Value.  If the budget passes with the Conservation Reserve Fund and all the Social Services Allocations pass, then it be a 6.32% tax rate increase from FY26 to FY27 (or $34 per $100,000 in Home Value.

Hill suggested adding FY27 details to the Historical Use of Unassigned and Restricted Funds (Slide 30).  Hill suggested illustrating the impact of health insurance on the municipal and school budgets.  Hill suggested adding information on fire protection where the Town contributes to Water/Sewer to help pay for the water tank.  Arneson confirmed that future tree maintenance was discussed with the Tree Warden and the Selectboard and it was decided that it would be a good use of the Conservation Reserve funds.  The Tree Warden is putting together a proposal so they can do some stuff in the spring and summer.     

Rabideau estimated that the budget shared amongst the residents is about $97/month which underscores that the Town if being frugal with taxes especially without a large industrial tax base.  The Town is just keeping pace with inflation.  Wood stated that by funding Reserves, it will hopefully set up future budgets for success. 

Hill observed that they have not addressed a rehab plan for the Town Center building.  It is not addressed in this budget, but it will come up in the future.  

Bona observed that they are using $865,000 to finance this budget that is not coming in the form of Property Tax expenses.  Arneson stated it could be as much as $1.3 million with potential Highway State Aid.  

Hill confirmed that they are utilizing a day-to-day maintenance manager and a project management company to make a coherent plan for the Town Center building.  Wood stated that the Town Center and Library Reserve fund will pay for those services but would not fund any major work on the building.  
  

 

Adjourn

Sander moved to adjourn.  Hill seconded. 
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Filkins, Rabideau, Sander, Wood in favor.  Motion approved.


Meeting adjourned at: 8:09 PM

Chat file from Zoom:
01:14:10          Frances Thomas:         I have not had a chance to review the detail budget yet. Is there any money put in for tee maint?

01:31:32          dpevans:          Thank you for everyone's effort on the budget!