Special Selectboard Budget Informational 2/23/26

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Selectboard Budget Info Minutes 02-23-26 4 MB

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Town of Richmond 
 Special Budget Informational Selectboard Meeting
Minutes of February 23, 2026

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

Absent:  Adam Wood

Staff Present: Josh Arneson, Town Manager; Duncan Wardwell, Deputy Town Manager; Susanne Parent, Town Clerk; Connie Bona, Finance Director

Others Present:  Recorded by MMCTV Erin Wagg, Catherine Bianca L. Wakim, Clint Buxton, Connie van Eeghen, John Rankin, Jonathan Chapple-Sokel, JP, Judy Rosovsky, June Heston, Karen Prosciak, Lo Wolf - Age Well, Marcy Harding, Martha Nye, Morgan Wolaver, Sam Pratt, Trevor Brooks, Virginia Clarke

 

MMCTV Video: https://youtu.be/cySIBZob8ac?si=bKnukMRcjBgRHdv8 

Call to Order: 7:00 PM

 

Welcome by:  Filkins

 

Public Comment: Rabideau acknowledged Ryan Cochran Siegel, Julia Kern and Ben Ogden for representing Richmond in this year’s Olympics. There were also a number of outstanding athletes from Jericho, so the local school district punches above its weight. Sander observed the Cochran Siegel won his latest silver medal 54 years to the day after his mother, Barbara Ann Cochran, won gold in downhill skiing.
      
Additions, Deletions or Modifications to Agenda:  None

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present

Australian Ballot Information Hearing
Timestamp: 0:02 
2 TOWN REPORT 2026 WARNING FINAL  

Arneson reviewed that this is the second of two public informational hearings for Australian ballot items prior to Town Meeting on Tuesday, March 3.  He will go over the budget, discuss the Town Plan, the Conservation Reserve Fund, the Town Center Reserve Fund, and Charitable Appropriations.  These are all Australian Ballot items for Town Meeting. There are no chances to amend the budget as the Warning is already printed and ready for Town Meeting. Arneson illustrated that information on Town Meeting and the budget can be found at:
https://www.richmondvt.gov/news/post/annual-town-meeting-march-3-2026 


Review and discuss Article 6: Shall the voters of the Town of Richmond approve a budget of $5,955,969.00 to meet the expenses and liabilities of the Town of Richmond in Fiscal Year 2027?
Timestamp: 0:02
2a1 FY27 FINAL Budget for Town Report 
2a2 FY27 FINAL Budget for Town Report 
2a3 Budget Notes 
2a4 Reserve Funds 
2a5 Town Center Fund 
2a6 FY27 Capital Plan 3A 12-15-25 
2a7 FY2027 Budget Presentation - 2-3-26 

Arneson presented the slideshow for the two Informational Meetings and Town Meeting Day:
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Selectboard/Meetings/2026/02/2a7_FY2027_Budget_Presentation_-_2-3-26.pdf 

Arneson confirmed that the current number of cruisers and officers are currently the same.  If the Police Department hired another officer, then they would have to buy another cruiser for that officer.

Arneson confirmed that the Unassigned and Restricted funds took a big hit with the flooding, but he is confident FEMA is close to reimbursing the Town for some of those funds.  Arneson stated that he hasn’t heard any concerns about “clawback” of those funds.


Review and discuss Article 7: Shall the voters of the Town of Richmond, as required under 24 VSA § 4385, adopt the 2026 Richmond Town Plan?
Timestamp: 0:48
2b 4.0 - TOWN PLAN 2026 FOURTH DRAFT EDITS CLEAN 1.21.26 - SB Changes

Clarke, the Chair of the Planning Commission, illustrated that every 8 years, the Town has to publish a Municipal Town Plan.  This vote to approve the Town Plan will not increase taxes directly.  Clarke presented the documents associated with the 11 different sections of Town Plan
-Community Development
-Economic Development
-Education
-Emergency Resilience
-Energy and Climate Change
-Future Land Use
-Historic Resources
-Housing
-Natural Resources
-Transportation
-Utilities & Facilities

Clarke stated that the State made it clear that Richmond is a shared community in Chittenden County and Vermont.  The Town Plan was a good process with a good map resulting.  


Review and discuss Article 8: Shall the voters of the Town of Richmond approve funding the Conservation Reserve Fund by adding one cent to the municipal tax rate in Fiscal Year 2027?
Timestamp: 1:15
2c1 CRF Info Sheet 02-06-26
2c2 CRF Renewal 02-06-26

Pratt and Rosovsky presented the CRF Renewal presentation and the CRF Info Sheet from the packet.  The Conservation Reserve Fund is financed by 1 cent on the tax rate so that it costs a taxpayer $10 for every $100,000 of assessed value or $50 for every $500,000 of assessed value.

Pratt summarized that the 30% by 2030 State goal depends on the Town as Burlington is not going to conserve 30% and Bolton is going to conserve more than 30% because it is so mountainous. Rosovsky estimated that there is about 21% of conserved land in Richmon so they are in good shape.  Hill observed it might be how we define conserved land like a flood plain is conserved.  Pratt illustrated the Conservation Commission opportunity to reach out to folks that have land on the Winooski River or in a flood plain.  Rabideau asked about recreation being integrated into conserved lands.  Pratt illustrated how the revised version of the management of the Andrews Community Forest is an example of recreation in a conserved parcel.  Pratt described the flood mitigation measures as bank stabilization, especially along Volunteers Green and water quality studies.  

Harding suggested expanding the Conservation Reserve Fund to leverage other money to make affordable housing projects happen in Richmond.  Rosovsky and Pratt illustrated how funds help with agricultural, historical and natural resources which encompasses the Town Center.            


Review and discuss Article 9: Shall the voters of the Town of Richmond approve funding the Town Center Reserve Fund by adding one cent to the municipal tax rate in Fiscal Year 2027?
Timestamp: 1:40

Rabideau listed the big projects as providing flood resilience for building systems, general energy efficiency and replacing exterior windows.  The fund allows the Selectboard to approve projects in series rather than one giant project that would involve borrowing money.  Hill reviewed how the new contractors for building maintenance will provide near-term priorities.  

Arneson reviewed the income and expenses associated with the Town Center Reserve Fund from 7/1/2024 (balance of $266,180) to 6/30/2050 (balance of $336,629).  The proposal on the ballot would add about $80,000.  Arneson illustrated that this is to help fund some of the larger projects looming for the Town Center building.   


Review and discuss Articles 10 - 18: Charitable Appropriations voted by Australian ballot
Timestamp: 1:44
2e1 Vermont Family Network Appropriations FY27
2e2 Age Well Appropriations FY27
2e3 VT Center for Independent Living Appropriations FY27
2e4 COTS Appropriations FY27
2e5 OCCC Appropriations FY27 
2e6 Steps to End Domestic Violence Appropriations FY27 
2e7 Turning Point Appropriations FY27 
2e8 Hope Works Appropriations FY27 
2e9 Howard Center Appropriations FY27

Arneson illustrated the different Charitable Appropriations requests provided in the packet links.  

Filkins stated that Vermont Family Network is an incredibly powerful non-profit in Vermont that supports a lot of families. 

Wolf presented the Age Well request and reported that they served around 122 Richmond individuals with a total of around 104,602 services delivered.  Age Well has 37 amazing volunteers from Richmond that donate over 882 hours.

Wakim presented the Our Community Cares positive impact and long-term resilience for our community.  Wakim stated that they served over 2,000 meals and staffed 31 local junior counselors and staff members.  Rabideau stated that this is a homegrown program that he fully supports.

Chapple-Sokel presented that Steps to End Domestic Violence provides support to survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence and works towards prevention through education, community training and increasing public awareness.  Steps typically serve about 1,500 people directly each year with 15-20 people who declare themselves as Richmond residents.  Richmond has regularly appropriated $1,500 per year, which is the same request this year. 

Prosciak stated how the Howard Center provides services available in Richmond called the Intensive Service Coordinators.  This position provides services that are not often billable to Medicaid or insurance providers.


Adjourn

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

Meeting adjourned at: 9:02 PM

Chat file from Zoom: 
00:48:26          Judy.Rosovsky:           If the tax rate for the Conservation or Town Center reserve fund is $10/100,000 of property value, a $500,000 property should be contributing $50 to those reserve funds
01:31:08          Chelsye:          The definition of conserved land is per statute. Current use land is not included. Floodplain is only included if it is otherwise conserved.
01:31:24          Chelsye:          For the 30x30 calculations anyway.
01:44:00          MMCTV Erin Wagg:  Judy - Where is section 2 ordinance to read about this?
01:45:38          Judy.Rosovsky:           Its on the town website under the Ordinances and Policies tab. I will get you the link in a second
01:46:31          Judy.Rosovsky:           The Conservation Reserve Fund policy is available at www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Archive/2014/03/Conservation-Reserve-Fund-Policy-2005.pdf

Or go to www.richmondvt.gov Ordinances and Policies and look under Selectboard Policies - thanks!
01:46:51          MMCTV Erin Wagg:  Thank you!
01:47:05          Judy.Rosovsky:           Reacted to "For the 30x30 calcul..." with 👍
01:49:01          Chelsye:          How much money does a 1 cent tax bring in annually? Or how much is it projected to?
01:53:15          Caitlin Filkins:            Replying to "How much money does ..."
From what I’m remember it would be roughly $80,000 annually. Need to double check that is right
01:54:53          Judy.Rosovsky:           Replying to "How much money does ..."That's what Josh said, and it's tied to the final grand list amount
01:55:12          Judy.Rosovsky:           Replying to "How much money does ..."
His number was 80340
01:55:22          Chelsye:          Reacted to "From what I’m rememb..." with 👍
01:55:26          Chelsye:          Reacted to "His number was 80340" with 👍
01:55:26          Caitlin Filkins:            Reacted to "That's what Josh sai..." with 👍