Ward 3 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-02-04
Time: 18:30

Ward 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly
 Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 6:30 PM
 Join in person: City Hall, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church St.
 Join virtually: https://zoom.us/j/98644635243

Facilitator: Zach Cummings
6:30 pm Call to Order | 5 min
 Adopt the agenda and review meeting ground rules.
6:35 pm CDBG Advisory Board Update | 10 min
 An update on the work of the CDBG Advisory Board.
 • Brooks Cummings, Ward 3 Representative
6:45 pm City Budget Presentation | 30 min
 An update on the current status of the city’s proposed FY27 budget.
 • Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Mayor
 • Katherine Schad, Chief Administrative Officer
7:15 pm Town Meeting Day Ballot Questions | 30 min
 A presentation on the Town Meeting Day ballot questions.
 1) Public Safety Tax Question
 Katherine Schad, CAO, Department of Finance and Administration
 2) REIB Charter Change
 Kelli Perkins, Director, Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
7:45 pm Candidate Forum | 30 min
 An opportunity to connect with School Commission and City Council candidates.
 • Heather Amato, School Commissioner
 • Laura Sánchez-Parkinson, City Council
8:15 pm Public Forum | 15 min
 An opportunity to share opinions, news, and events.
8:30 pm Adjourn
 Our next meeting is Wednesday, March 4.




Use the QR code to go to any of these links: Email us • Go to our website • Watch
meeting recordings on CCTV's website • Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram •
Request a time slot with the NPA Request Form • Links from this agenda
Appendix to the Agenda

Ward 3 NPA Ground Rules
  • Meetings should have clearly defined agenda and roles.
  • Honor Time limits: A best effort must be made to start on time, follow the agenda, and finish on time.
  • Wait to be recognized: Members may not speak until recognized by the moderator.
  • Listen to others: Make efforts to be an open-minded member of the group.
  • Respect the agenda and the process: Try to remain focused on the issue at hand.
  • Share your opinion respectfully: Speak out, but not over, others’ comments.
  • Treat people how you would like to be treated: Be respectful of everyone, including guests.

Public Forum Protocol
  • Community members will be required to sign up for the Public Forum before the start of the meeting
 consistent with the process used by the City Council.
  • Participants will have up to two (2) minutes to share their thoughts and will speak based upon the
 order in which the requests were received.
  • Participants may speak only for themselves and individual speakers will not be permitted to yield their
 time to other speakers.
  • Personal attacks will not be tolerated and the moderator reserves the right to limit comments that are
 disruptive and/or obscene.
  • Ward 3 residents will be given priority and, if there is still time, persons who live outside the ward will
 be provided an opportunity to speak.

Question-and-Answer Protocol
  • Please state your full name prior to asking your question.
  • Each participant will have thirty (30) seconds to ask one and only one question.
  • There will be no follow up questions so everyone has a chance to participate.
  • Ward 3 residents will be given priority.

Discussion and Debate Rules
  • Members may not speak until recognized by the moderator.
  • Each member will have a maximum of two (2) minutes to speak on questions before the NPA.
  • No member will be permitted to speak a second time until every member has had an opportunity to
 speak once.
  • No member will be permitted to speak a third time until every member has had an opportunity to
 speak twice.




 Appendix to agenda | Wards 3 NPA - Page 2

Ward 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly
 Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 6:30 PM
 Join in person: City Hall, Sharon Bushor Conference Room, 149 Church St.
 Join virtually: https://zoom.us/j/98644635243

Facilitator: Zach Cummings
6:30 pm Call to Order | 5 min
 Adopt the agenda and review meeting ground rules.
6:35 pm CDBG Advisory Board Update | 10 min
 An update on the work of the CDBG Advisory Board.
 • Brooks Cummings, Ward 3 Representative
6:45 pm City Budget Presentation | 30 min
 An update on the current status of the city’s proposed FY27 budget.
 • Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Mayor
 • Katherine Schad, Chief Administrative Officer
7:15 pm Town Meeting Day Ballot Questions | 30 min
 A presentation on the Town Meeting Day ballot questions.
 1) Public Safety Tax Question
 Katherine Schad, CAO, Department of Finance and Administration
 2) REIB Charter Change
 Kelli Perkins, Director, Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
7:45 pm Candidate Forum | 30 min
 An opportunity to connect with School Commission and City Council candidates.
 • Heather Amato, School Commissioner
 • Laura Sánchez-Parkinson, City Council
8:15 pm Public Forum | 15 min
 An opportunity to share opinions, news, and events.
8:30 pm Adjourn
 Our next meeting is Wednesday, March 4.




Use the QR code to go to any of these links: Email us • Go to our website • Watch
meeting recordings on CCTV's website • Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram •
Request a time slot with the NPA Request Form • Links from this agenda


 Page 1 of 20
Appendix to the Agenda

Ward 3 NPA Ground Rules
  • Meetings should have clearly defined agenda and roles.
  • Honor Time limits: A best effort must be made to start on time, follow the agenda, and finish on time.
  • Wait to be recognized: Members may not speak until recognized by the moderator.
  • Listen to others: Make efforts to be an open-minded member of the group.
  • Respect the agenda and the process: Try to remain focused on the issue at hand.
  • Share your opinion respectfully: Speak out, but not over, others’ comments.
  • Treat people how you would like to be treated: Be respectful of everyone, including guests.

Public Forum Protocol
  • Community members will be required to sign up for the Public Forum before the start of the meeting
 consistent with the process used by the City Council.
  • Participants will have up to two (2) minutes to share their thoughts and will speak based upon the
 order in which the requests were received.
  • Participants may speak only for themselves and individual speakers will not be permitted to yield their
 time to other speakers.
  • Personal attacks will not be tolerated and the moderator reserves the right to limit comments that are
 disruptive and/or obscene.
  • Ward 3 residents will be given priority and, if there is still time, persons who live outside the ward will
 be provided an opportunity to speak.

Question-and-Answer Protocol
  • Please state your full name prior to asking your question.
  • Each participant will have thirty (30) seconds to ask one and only one question.
  • There will be no follow up questions so everyone has a chance to participate.
  • Ward 3 residents will be given priority.

Discussion and Debate Rules
  • Members may not speak until recognized by the moderator.
  • Each member will have a maximum of two (2) minutes to speak on questions before the NPA.
  • No member will be permitted to speak a second time until every member has had an opportunity to
 speak once.
  • No member will be permitted to speak a third time until every member has had an opportunity to
 speak twice.




 Appendix to agenda | Wards 3 NPA - Page 2

 Page 2 of 20
  FY27 General Fund Budget &
Police and Fire Tax Rate Increase
 NPA Presentation
 January-February 2026

 Page 3 of 20
 FY27 Budget: Big Picture

• Estimated $10-12M budget gap at this time
 - Approx. 10% of City's $107M budget


• Current FY27 general fund personnel estimate is $78.5M (increase
  of 7.5%)
• This is in line with expectations
  - Still includes estimates for health insurance & worker’s comp based on
 timing of the current fiscal year and self-insured nature of our insurance
 plan

 Page 4 of 20
 FY27 Budget: Personnel

• Started with FY26 personnel budget of $73M
 - Departments recently provided updated information

• New police and fire union contract provisions unanimously supported by
 City Council and Mayor:
 - Add 2 new firefighters per BFFA contract FY27
 - Cost of living adjustments of 7% (fire) and 4.75% (police). In line with
 regional salaries for first responders.
 - AFSCME negotiations start in February for FY27 so used
 a conservative figures for salary/benefits
 - Non-union – used AFSCME estimate as is our recent practice
 Page 5 of 20
 FY27 Budget: Personnel

• Add required annual step increases for all eligible employees

• Increase employer healthcare costs by 10%
 - Based on initial estimate and subject to change based on current usage

• Increase employer retirement costs by 5%
 - Initial estimate

• Increase worker’s compensation insurance costs by 5%
 - Initial estimate



 Page 6 of 20
 FY27 Budget: Operating

• Add 3% for inflation on most other non-personnel operating costs

• Added money to have cash available to purchase 9 new vehicles on
  the urgent/dire need list: 6 are for Police & Fire, remaining are for Parks
 - Since 2013, City has constrained replacement of vehicles and
 equipment for budget reasons
 - In 2020, fleet committee estimated City needs $2.7M/year for
 sustainable replacement of fleet
 - City has not yet been able to find sustainable fleet money in budget
 - Situation is no longer sustainable for first responders


 Page 7 of 20
 Why Ongoing Structural Budget Gap?
• Grand List is foundation of our revenue:
  property taxes.

• Property taxes represent approximately
  half of City’s General Fund revenue

 - Other revenue comes from grants,
 other types of taxes (ex: gross
 receipts), and fees.

• Our Grand List grows at a lower rate
  than our operating costs.

• Average annual grand list growth
  of 1.05% since 2016

• Note: In FY27, we no longer collect $1M of business personal property tax revenue, and
  there is no replacement source of revenue. Page 8 of 20
 Why Ongoing Structural Budget Gap?
• The City has overly relied on one-time funds. We are changing this
  practice and removing historically unachievable revenues from our budget.

• FY26 Included $1.2M of ARPA funding for police and fire salaries that is no
  longer available.

• FY26 included $650k of one-time increased collection of delinquent
  property taxes and gross receipts – removing for further discussion.

• Some revenues overbudgeted in recent years, and budget not met – revising
  downward to make realistic creates an additional expected gap of $1.3M


 Page 9 of 20
 Why Ongoing Structural Budget Gap?
• The City has grown the size of our workforce, services and programming over
  the past decade.

• The City added 98 FTEs positions with salaries funded by the General Fund
  between FY14 – FY24.
 - This is an ongoing operational expense we added with one-time revenue
 sources in many cases.




 Page 10 of 20
 Balanced Budget: 3-Part Approach

• A gap of $10-12M in City budget of $107M is approximately 10% and will
  require a balanced, three-part approach:

 – Raise Revenue

 – Rightsize Government

 – Realize Strategic Opportunities




 Page 11 of 20
 Raise Revenue: Raise Police & Fire Tax
• One option to raise revenue is $0.05 increase to police & fire tax

• Would raise about $3M toward projected gap

• Overall expected increase to FY27 compensation and benefits for police & fire is
 $3.05M
 - Excluding retirement, which is covered by dedicated tax

• Current police & fire tax projected to raise $6.4M this year
 - In contrast, budgets for those departments are $39.1M
 - Police & fire tax only raises 16% of costs for the services

• Bipartisan City Council vote (9-3) to place tax rate increase on TMD March ballot
 Page 12 of 20
 Municipal Tax Effect
 Note: $353K is current median assessed value for home or condo in
 Burlington​


 Fiscal Muni Tax Rate Total Muni Tax on $ Increase % Increase
  Year $353K Property
  FY22 $.6704 $2,367

  FY23 $.7085 $2,501 $134 5.7%

  FY24 $.7523 $2,655 $154 6.2%

  FY25 $.8326 $2,939 $284 10.7%

  FY26 $.8556 $3,020 $81 2.8%

  FY27 $.9363 * $3,305 $285 9.4%

* Proposed rate for FY27 including $.05 police and tax increase + other increases required by Charter.​

 Page 13 of 20
 Preliminary Early Balanced Solution
 Category Solution Amount Notes
Raise Revenue Increase Police & Fire Property Tax $ 3M Council approved question to be placed
 $.05 on Town Meeting Day ballot.
Raise Revenue Utilize One-Time Revenues $ 2M Exploring use of dedicated tax balances
 from many years previous in
 appropriate, budget-relieving ways.
Raise Revenue Enhance Collections $ 1M Examples include parking tickets,
 ambulance fees and building permits.
 Refine amount.
Rightsize Reduce Government Expenses 5-= $ 3M Department Heads made
Government 10% recommendations for further discussion.
Rightsize Create Voluntary Furlough Program $ 0.2M HR moving forward to create voluntary
Government program.
Realize Strategic Sale of City Property $ 1M Vacant properties or used for parking.
Opportunities Would create one-time money and add to
 ongoing property tax revenue.
 Total $ 10.2M


 Numbers are preliminary, and this is just an initial look at one way we could choose to structure the solution. Page 14 of 20
 Summary

• $10-12M current gap

• Will utilize a three-part approach to handle – raising revenue, rightsizing
  government, and realizing strategic opportunities

• $0.05 increase to police and fire tax will raise $3M, which pays for increases
  City is obligated to contract to pay to those employees

• Vote happens on Town Meeting Day, March 3

• Each department will present budget to Board of Finance in early April

• Budget drafted by Mayor and must be approved by June 30 by City Council
 Page 15 of 20
 REIB CHARTER CHANGE
OFFICE OF RACIAL EQUITY, INCLUSION, & BELONGING (REIB)
 January 15, 2026


 REIB CHARTER CHANGE MARCH 3, 3026 BALLOT
 Page 16 of 20
 REIB Charter Change
 January 15, 2026

REIB Charter Change: What Voters Are Being Asked to Decide
 •On March 3, Burlington voters will decide whether to add the Office of Racial
 Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) to the City Charter

 •The City Charter defines which parts of City government are permanent

 •This change would make the REIB a stable, ongoing part of City government.

 •Placing the REIB in the Charter helps ensure this work continues consistently
 over time, regardless of changes in leadership.
 NPA MEETINGS: REIB CHARTER CHANGE
 Page 17 of 20
 REIB Charter Change
 January 15, 2026




NPA MEETINGS: REIB CHARTER CHANGE Page 18 of 20
 REIB Charter Change
 January 15, 2026

REIB Charter Change: What the REIB Does and Why it Matters for Burlington
 What the REIB Does in Burlington Why This Matters for Burlington

 •Supports city departments in the • Helps the City and community respond to
 development, implementation, and diverse and community-identified needs
 coordination for programs and services to
 ensure consistency and accessibility • Supports a strong local economy and
 community resilience.
 •Provides training and guidance for City
 staff, boards, and commissions • Brings diverse perspectives into City
 decision-making and builds trust.
 •Creates ways for community members to
 engage directly with City government
 NPA MEETINGS: REIB CHARTER CHANGE Page 19 of 20
 REIB Charter Change
 Insert Date


REIB Charter Change: Budget Clarity

 Budget clarity:
 • The REIB already exists
 • It represents about 0.7% of the City’s General Fund
 • At its highest funding level, it has never exceeded 1% of the General Fund




 NPA MEETINGS: REIB CHARTER CHANGE
 Page 20 of 20

Ward 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly
 Wednesday, February 4, 2026
 Sharon Bushor Room, Burlington City Hall
 Meeting Minutes
1. Welcome & Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:30 PM by Zach Cummings, Ward 3 NPA
Steering Committee member.
2. Attendee Introductions
  • NPA Steering Committee Members:
 ✓ Brooks Cummings, Cherry Street
 ✓ Zachary Cummings, South Champlain Street
 ✓ Christopher-Aaron Felker, Park Street (via remote attendance)
 ✓ Darrell Fields, Church Street
 ✓ Christopher Haessly, College Street
 ✓ Charlie Messing, College Street
  • City Officials/Staff:
 ✓ Melo Grant, City Councilor, Central District
 ✓ Barbara Turnbull, Dept of Finance and Administration
 ✓ Charlie Giannoni, Town Meeting TV
  • Presenters:
 ✓ Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Mayor
 ✓ Dr. Kelly Perkins, Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB)
  • Community Members/Public:
 ✓ Amy Taylor, College Street
 ✓ Susan Forester, College Street
 ✓ Alan Rubin, College Street
 ✓ Suki Rubin, College Street
 ✓ Susan Dow, South Champlain Street
 ✓ Jeffrey Peterson, Monroe Street
 ✓ Laura Sanchez Parkinson, Front Street
 ✓ Trudy Richmond, Elmwood Avenue (via remote attendance)
 ✓ Faried Munarsyah, Ward 5
3. CDBG Advisory Board Updates
Presented by: Brooks Cummings, Ward 3 Representative
Brooks Cummings provided an update on the work of the Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) Advisory Board:
 • Orientation & Timeline: An orientation is occurring this month; the first official meeting
 is scheduled for March 5th.
 • Grant Allocation: In the 2025 cycle, approximately 14 organizations requested funding,
 with a recommended award total of just over $500,000.
 • Process: The board serves in an advisory capacity, making recommendations that are
 ultimately decided by the Mayor and City Council.
 • Delineation of Funds: Federal requirements mandate that certain percentages be
 allocated specifically to public service projects.
4. City Budget Presentation
Presented by: Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Mayor
The estimated gap between revenues and expenses for the upcoming fiscal year (FY27) is
between $10 million and $12 million, approximately 10% of the general fund.
There are several factors driving the budget gap:
 • Grand List Growth: Revenue from property taxes grows only about 1% annually, while
 operating costs rise faster.
 • One-Time Funding: Previous reliance on ARPA and COVID-related grants to fund ninety-
 eight (98) full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.
 • Healthcare Costs: A projected 10% increase in health insurance premiums for city
 employees.
Right-Sizing Measures: Departments have been tasked with 5% to 10% precent reductions.
The city is also exploring voluntary furloughs and temporary hiring freezes.
5. Town Meeting Day Ballot Questions
Public Safety Tax Question
Presented by: Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Mayor
 • The Mayor is proposing a 5-cent increase to the police and fire splinter taxes to raise $3
 million.
 • This $3 million aligns with the projected increase in compensation and benefits for first
 responders next year.
 • For a median-assessed home valued at $353,000, this represents a $285 annual increase
 or approximately 9% percent.
5. Town Meeting Day Ballot Questions (Continued)
REIB Charter Change
Presented by: Dr. Kelly Perkins, Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB)
 • Ballot Question: On March 3rd, voters will decide whether to make the REIB office a
 permanent part of the City Charter.
 • Scope of Work: The department handles language access (including expanding to
 Braille), coordinates the Aging Council, and manages the "Trusted Community Voices"
 program for immigrant and refugee outreach.
 • Budget Impact: The department accounts for approximately $700,000 or 0.7% of the
 general fund.
6. City Council Candidate Forum
City Council Candidate: Laura Sanchez Parkinson
Resident of the Old North End, parent of students at the Sustainability Academy, and
professional in organizational management and mental health. Laura’s key issues are:
 • Housing: Advocated for creative solutions, including shared housing models and
 density, to allow families to stay in Burlington.
 • Economic Vitality: Focused on supporting small businesses and addressing the
 "commuter" issue where essential workers cannot afford to live in the city.
 • Civility: Expressed a commitment to improving the tone of dialogue on the City Council
 and listening to diverse viewpoints, including those opposed to her positions.
7. Public Forum
Several members of the community came forward to speak on various topics.
 • Nikhil Goyal (Main Street): Announced candidacy for State Senate (Chittenden Central)
 with a focus on education, universal primary care, and keeping public dollars in public
 schools.
 • Faried Munarsyah (Ward 5): Introduced a petition for a charter amendment
 (Proposition Zero) to allow Burlington residents to place items on the ballot via petition
 similar to other Vermont towns.
 • Melo Grant (City Councilor): Reminded residents of the February 26th Public Safety
 Committee meeting featuring State's Attorney Sarah George.
 • Jeffrey Peterson (Monroe Street): Raised concerns about being "priced out" of the city
 and requested a more serious, non-partisan housing policy.
 • Christopher Haessly (College Street): Encouraged economic development through a
 convention center to capture an estimated $63 million in lost revenue.
8. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:42 PM.