Mayor Weinberger is developing the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 22) budget, which will be presented to the Council in June. It is our goal to have a collabortaive process that produces a budget representing broad consensus. Mayor Weinberger conducted a public engagement process about the Fiscal Year 2022 budget that included a community survey and public meetings.
In the survey comments, respondents commented in support for restoring city services and infrastructure investment, concern with spending ARPA funds on new initiatives without long-term funding identified, and a desire to limit any tax rate increases. Other areas of investment where many survey respondent’s showed support include; Burlington High School, new housing and alleviating homelessness, climate action, and elevated levels of infrastructure investment. These are topics the City may consider for future community engagement as visioning and planning for investment of the remaining ARPA funds continues after the FY 22 budget process concludes. Review the full survey results here.
Background
Last year we faced a dramatic reduction in revenues that forced us to eliminate virtually all discretionary spending in our municipal budget, stop the advancement of almost all non-covid new initiatives, and spend down the emergency reserves (rainy-day fund) that we had spent years building.
This year, the infusion of $27 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) revenues creates a complex and exciting challenge: budgeting to restore full city operations, make structural progress on strategic priorities, and carefully steward this unprecedented infusion of one-time resources.
The City has until the end of 2024 to carefully spend these federal dollars. The Administration plans to lead a series of public conversations later this summer regarding investment of these funds in: climate action, equity initiatives, and other longer-term community investments However, as intended by the federal legislation, we will need to use significant ARPA funds as we develop our current Fiscal Year 2022 budget between now and mid-June.
Administration Budget Principles
On March 11, President Joe Biden signed the American Resuce Plan Act (ARPA) into law, dramatically changing the City's budget outlook. Here are the principles the Mayor has developed in response to this new, welcome reality that have shaped the current draft of the budget:
- All City services will be restored to pre-pandemic levels.
- Investment in critical infrastructure should continue at pre-pandemic, enhanced levels to address aging assets and advance Net Zero Energy City goals.
- Emergency reserves should be restored to address Fiscal Year 2023 economic uncertainty.
- Tax increases should be minimized as much as possible.
- The City will make overdue investments in racial equity, justice, language access, and livable wages.
- Municipal City enterprise funds severely impacted by the pandemic may require support.
- The use of significant ARPA funds will be necessary to make good on the other budget principles.
Budget Materials
Budget presentations -
- FY 22 Mayor's Recommended Budget tax rates (May 12)
- Clerk Treasurer
- Human Resources
- Innovation and Technology
- Airport
- Mayor's Office
- Fire Department
- Department of Public Works
- Traffic
- Burlington Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront
- Capital Budgets
- Parks Capital Budgets
- Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
- Church Street Marketplace
- Economic Recovery
- Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO)
- Police Department
- Planning Department
- Burlington City Arts
- City Assessor
- City Attorney
- Burlington Electric Department
- Permitting and Inspections
- Fletcher Free Library
- Water/Wastewater/Stormwater
- Health, Retirement, Workers' Compensation, Insurance
Schedule for developing and passing the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget
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Regular Board of Finance Meeting |
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Department Budget Presentations #1 |
Agenda:
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The Board of Finance will provide feedback and input on the General Fund budget. |
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July 1, 2021 |
New Fiscal Year 2022 begins |
