{"id":2754,"date":"2022-02-13T19:22:36","date_gmt":"2022-02-14T00:22:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/?p=2754"},"modified":"2022-02-13T19:22:39","modified_gmt":"2022-02-14T00:22:39","slug":"truth-in-advertising-selectboard-presentation-on-town-budget-and-article-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/13\/truth-in-advertising-selectboard-presentation-on-town-budget-and-article-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Truth-in-advertising? Selectboard presentation on town budget and article 7"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"368\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot-2022-02-13-at-12-55-24-Jim-Shore-Peaunts-LITTLE-MISS-FUSSBUDGET-Figurine-4044680-NIB-Lucy-Enesco-Enesco-figurin....png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot-2022-02-13-at-12-55-24-Jim-Shore-Peaunts-LITTLE-MISS-FUSSBUDGET-Figurine-4044680-NIB-Lucy-Enesco-Enesco-figurin....png 368w, https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot-2022-02-13-at-12-55-24-Jim-Shore-Peaunts-LITTLE-MISS-FUSSBUDGET-Figurine-4044680-NIB-Lucy-Enesco-Enesco-figurin...-237x300.png 237w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 368px) 100vw, 368px\" \/><figcaption>Lucy from Peanut, Little Miss Fussbudget. Source <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/491244271853314186\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/491244271853314186\/<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe I am a fussbudget. Nonetheless, I do not understand why the Selectboard can&#8217;t be more forthcoming in its <a href=\"http:\/\/norwich.vt.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/TownMeeting2022Presentation_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Town Meeting slide presentation<\/a>.  Specifically, I am referring to the slides for the Town budget and for Article 7. Voters deserve transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A presentation is scheduled for<a href=\"http:\/\/norwich.vt.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/SB-Agenda-02-14-2022-Special-Mtg.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> February 14<\/a> and again, at the pre-Town Meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Budget<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Opera-Snapshot_2022-02-12_165636_norwich.vt_.us_-1024x340.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2756\" srcset=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Opera-Snapshot_2022-02-12_165636_norwich.vt_.us_-1024x340.png 1024w, https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Opera-Snapshot_2022-02-12_165636_norwich.vt_.us_-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Opera-Snapshot_2022-02-12_165636_norwich.vt_.us_-768x255.png 768w, https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Opera-Snapshot_2022-02-12_165636_norwich.vt_.us_-1536x510.png 1536w, https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Opera-Snapshot_2022-02-12_165636_norwich.vt_.us_.png 1713w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Slide # 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Above is Slide number 5 from Selectboard&#8217;s presentation. I am not sure this statement &#8211; &#8220;maintaining current services while accounting for the coming year\u2019s high inflation rate&#8221; &#8211; is an accurate representation of the budget before voters. I also think the presentation fails to mention the percent increase in municipal taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My comments are based on the budget in the <a href=\"http:\/\/norwich.vt.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/SB-packet-01-12-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">January 12 packet<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maintaining current services <\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>I don&#8217;t know whether current services are maintained in this budget. I assume so. However, as far as far as I can tell, this budget is <strong>not<\/strong> a level-service operating budget. I count at least six new initiatives in this budget. They include: a Regional Energy Coordinator (previously a separate article), adding a part-time Zoning Administrator, funding for police body cameras, funding for a police vehicle, cell phones for certain department heads, and a new line item named \u201cLegal\u201d funded at $90,000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There may be others. But, sadly, there is no narrative explaining to voters the significant additions to or changes in the budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accounting for high inflation <\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>As for inflation, its impact on this budget is not apparent to me. The COLA for wages looks back five-years, under the union contract. Health insurance premiums decreased from last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, the DPW is the biggest user in town of materials, gasoline and outside services, items likely to be hit hard by inflation. And operating Tracy Hall is part of the DPW budget. So guess how much the DPW budget increased this year. If you guessed 5%, you would be wrong. The DPW budget DECREASED  by over 3%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I do not discount the fact of inflation. How did it drive the increases in this budget? I don&#8217;t know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6% tax increase?<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>How much are my taxes going to go up? That is not mentioned in the slide presentation. My best estimate is that the municipal tax rate will increase by about 6%. However, spending increases by only 3.85%, including the other monetary articles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I base the 6% on the revenue projections in the <a href=\"http:\/\/norwich.vt.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/SB-Packet-12222021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">December 22, 2021 Selectboard packet<\/a> at page 115. By my math, that increase was 6.3%. However, the total revenue raised was nearly $28,000 more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Article 7<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Article 7 represents a sea change on how accumulated budget surpluses are spent. At present, those surpluses, referred to as the &#8220;unrestricted fund balance,&#8221; can only be used with the approval of <strong>voters<\/strong> on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Article 7 shifts that authority for a good portion of that money <strong>from the voters<\/strong> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">to the Selectboard<\/span>. Although there is a purpose statement, it is broad. Uses include  &#8220;other unforeseen circumstances.&#8221; That is an amorphous term that might include <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">any<\/span> expenditure not in the current operating budget.  Indeed, Town Manager Rod Francis suggested that as a possible interpretation to fund the police study. In my view, Article 7 has the potential to be a $800,000 slush fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the narrative in the Town Meeting slide presentation does not mention the shift in control from voters to Selectboard. Instead, slide 16 portrays the issue as a housekeeping measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"312\" height=\"622\" src=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot-2022-02-13-at-16-30-07-02102022_TownMeeting_Presentation-TownMeeting2022Presentation_Final-pdf.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot-2022-02-13-at-16-30-07-02102022_TownMeeting_Presentation-TownMeeting2022Presentation_Final-pdf.png 312w, https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot-2022-02-13-at-16-30-07-02102022_TownMeeting_Presentation-TownMeeting2022Presentation_Final-pdf-150x300.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 312px) 100vw, 312px\" \/><figcaption>Portion of slide #16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The narrative reads as if the Selectboard is simply asking voters to approve a separate bank account. No shift in control from voters is mentioned. Slide 17 is no better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"293\" height=\"488\" src=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot-2022-02-13-at-17-17-16-02102022_TownMeeting_Presentation-TownMeeting2022Presentation_Final-pdf.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot-2022-02-13-at-17-17-16-02102022_TownMeeting_Presentation-TownMeeting2022Presentation_Final-pdf.png 293w, https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Screenshot-2022-02-13-at-17-17-16-02102022_TownMeeting_Presentation-TownMeeting2022Presentation_Final-pdf-180x300.png 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 293px) 100vw, 293px\" \/><figcaption>Portion of slide 17<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To further muddy the waters, the slide presentation mentions the Master Financial Policy regarding those unrestricted funds, as if that policy controlled. But it does not. That part of the Master Financial Policy needs voter approval, which the Selectboard is seeking under Article 7. In addition, counsel for the Town advised as much on January 3, 2022. &#8220;It is important to remember that &#8216;surplus&#8217; funds belong to the taxpayers and should be maintained and expended in the manner authorized by the voters.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not new advice.  Selectboard members Arnold, Brochu and Layton participated in an over a hour discussion that featured this issue at the Selectboard meeting on July 10, 2019, <a href=\"https:\/\/catv.cablecast.tv\/CablecastPublicSite\/show\/8847?channel=2&amp;seekto=1938\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">as seen on CATV.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why the soft sell to voters now? I don&#8217;t know<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\">*  *  * <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maybe I am a fussbudget. Nonetheless, I do not understand why the Selectboard can&#8217;t be more forthcoming in its Town Meeting slide presentation. Specifically, I am referring to the slides for the Town budget and for Article 7. Voters deserve transparency. A presentation is scheduled for February 14 and again, at the pre-Town Meeting. Budget Above is Slide number 5 from Selectboard&#8217;s presentation. I am not sure this statement &#8211; &#8220;maintaining current services while accounting for the coming year\u2019s high <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/13\/truth-in-advertising-selectboard-presentation-on-town-budget-and-article-7\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Truth-in-advertising? Selectboard presentation on town budget and article 7<\/span><span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2764,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[74,13,15,49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article-7-2022","category-budget-town","category-town-meeting","category-transparency"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Truth-in-advertising? 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Budget Above is Slide number 5 from Selectboard&#8217;s presentation. I am not sure this statement &#8211; &#8220;maintaining current services while accounting for the coming year\u2019s high Continue reading  Truth-in-advertising? 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Selectboard presentation on town budget and article 7 - Norwich Observer","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/13\/truth-in-advertising-selectboard-presentation-on-town-budget-and-article-7\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Truth-in-advertising? Selectboard presentation on town budget and article 7 - Norwich Observer","og_description":"Maybe I am a fussbudget. Nonetheless, I do not understand why the Selectboard can&#8217;t be more forthcoming in its Town Meeting slide presentation. Specifically, I am referring to the slides for the Town budget and for Article 7. Voters deserve transparency. A presentation is scheduled for February 14 and again, at the pre-Town Meeting. Budget Above is Slide number 5 from Selectboard&#8217;s presentation. I am not sure this statement &#8211; &#8220;maintaining current services while accounting for the coming year\u2019s high Continue reading  Truth-in-advertising? 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