Town of Norwich is flush with surplus cash

Here’s a good problem to have. The Town of Norwich is flush with surplus cash. It has over $680,000 in accumulated budget surplus, in addition to the ARPA money and a fully funded emergency fund.

Some numbers

• The Town had a budget surplus for fiscal year 2023, which closed on June 30, of $237,544, according to the memorandum from the Interim Finance Director at page 72 of the Selectboard packet for its meeting of August 23. That number is subject to audit.
• The Town has accumulated surplus cash of $684,254 as of the close FY 2023. The Town did not respond to my request to confirm that amount. My calculation adds this year’s surplus to the the accumulated surplus from prior years of $446,710..
• The accumulated surplus of $684,254 is about 14 percent of the FY 2023 Budget of $4,958,866.
• The Town also has $1,019,279 in unrestricted cash, formerly known as ARPA funds. Those funds are no longer subject to ARPA restrictions following the execution of an accounting procedure suggested by TRORC.
• The Emergency/Unanticipated Expense designated fund is fully funded at $750,000. IIRC, that fund should be between 12% and 16% of the annual budget. The current sum is 15% of the FY 2023 Budget.

Plans for the accumulated surplus of $684,254?

As budget season approaches, our public officials may want to consider an appropriate use for the surplus. Holding onto a cash surplus for no reason (hoarding?) does not strike me as sound policy.

One option is to return the money to taxpayers. In the past, the Selectboard returned a portion of a budget surplus to taxpayers by reducing the property tax rate for the next fiscal year. That practice is known as “buying down” the tax rate. With school taxes set to rise, using part of the surplus could ease the pain. Another option is to designate the funds for a particular municipal use. Say, the Kids’ Bridge, a fifth police officer, or Tracy Hall renovations. Or, the Town could share the wealth by contributing to efforts to build affordable housing or alleviate homelessness in the Upper Valley. Regardless, voter approval is likely necessary to use the surplus.