Ward 6 NPA — Burlington, VT
Date: 2026-02-05
Time: 18:30

Ward 6 NPA Meeting Agenda
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Location: Department of Public Works, 645 Pine Street

Or on zoom: https://zoom.us/j/81027856568

6:00 Community Dinner – join us for great (free!) food and a chance to connect with your neighbors

6:30 Call to Order,
 • Introductions
 • Announcements
 • Nomination of Hannah Riley to the Steering Committee and vote
 • Call for additional Steering Committee members

6:45: Shall the Ward 6 NPA express its support for the sentiments expressed in the Open Letter to City
Council that was presented to us at our December 4, 2025 meeting? (Text of Letter is below the agenda.).
Brief comments, consideration of any proposed amendments, and a vote.

7:15 School Budget Presentation and Candidate introduction: Clare Wool (candidate for re-election) and
Jeff Wick

7:30 City Ballot items
 • Public Safety Tax Increase: Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak and CAO Katherine Schad
 • Proposed Racial Equity Inclusion and Belonging Charter Change: REIB Director Kelli Perkins and
 REIB Communications and Community Engagement Manager Christian Berry

8:15 Adjourn


Open Letter to City Council (referenced above)

Dear Burlington City Council & Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak,
Democrats on the City Council blocked the AFC pledge advisory question from going to voters two years
in a row, despite thousands of Burlington residents signing petitions to put the pledge on the ballot. In
April 2025, the Council unanimously approved a resolution for protecting free speech on Palestine, and it
is time to rectify the fact that our free speech rights have been repeatedly denied. There should be a
democratic vote on adopting the pledge.

THE APARTHEID-FREE COMMUNITY PLEDGE:
WE AFFIRM our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and all people;
and
WE OPPOSE all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression; and
WE DECLARE ourselves an Apartheid-free community and to that end,
WE PLEDGE to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s Apartheid regime, settler colonialism,
and military occupation.
We, the undersigned, SUPPORT the Apartheid-Free Community (AFC) pledge, and DEMAND that the
Burlington City Council place the AFC advisory referendum question on the town meeting day 2026
ballot.

[end of open letter]

What is the NPA?
Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs) are grassroots, neighborhood organizations that were
established in each of Burlington's wards to encourage resident participation in City government.
Working as neighborhood advocacy groups, Neighborhood Planning Assemblies help improve
communication between the residents of Burlington and City government through regular meetings
scheduled in each Ward. For more information, click here.

What is involved in being on the Ward 6 NPA Steering Committee?
The Steering Committee is responsible for managing the affairs of the NPA, which includes organizing,
publicizing, and overseeing regular and special NPA meetings; sharing information about the NPA with
neighbors and the wider community; monitoring community developments and City policy to identify
issues relevant to the neighborhood and inviting speakers to present at the NPA; and overseeing the
NPA’s budget from the City. We typically meet once each month to plan the following month’s meeting,
and then have various tasks to follow up on (such as contacting speakers, arranging for food, etc.).

Ward 6 NPA Meeting Agenda
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Location: Department of Public Works, 645 Pine Street

Or on zoom: https://zoom.us/j/81027856568

6:00 Community Dinner – join us for great (free!) food and a chance to connect with your neighbors

6:30 Call to Order,
 • Introductions
 • Announcements
 • Nomination of Hannah Riley to the Steering Committee and vote
 • Call for additional Steering Committee members

6:45: Shall the Ward 6 NPA express its support for the sentiments expressed in the Open Letter to City
Council that was presented to us at our December 4, 2025 meeting? (Text of Letter is below the agenda.).
Brief comments, consideration of any proposed amendments, and a vote.

7:15 School Budget Presentation and Candidate introduction: Clare Wool (candidate for re-election) and
Jeff Wick

7:30 City Ballot items
 • Tax Fairness Advisory Question and Public Safety Tax Increase: Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak and CAO
 Katherine Schad
 • Proposed Racial Equity Inclusion and Belonging Charter Change: REIB Director Kelli Perkins and
 REIB Communications and Community Engagement Manager Christian Berry

8:15 Adjourn


Open Letter to City Council (referenced above)

Dear Burlington City Council & Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak,
Democrats on the City Council blocked the AFC pledge advisory question from going to voters two years
in a row, despite thousands of Burlington residents signing petitions to put the pledge on the ballot. In
April 2025, the Council unanimously approved a resolution for protecting free speech on Palestine, and it
is time to rectify the fact that our free speech rights have been repeatedly denied. There should be a
democratic vote on adopting the pledge.

THE APARTHEID-FREE COMMUNITY PLEDGE:
WE AFFIRM our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and all people;
and
WE OPPOSE all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression; and
WE DECLARE ourselves an Apartheid-free community and to that end,




 Page 1 of 20
WE PLEDGE to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s Apartheid regime, settler colonialism,
and military occupation.
We, the undersigned, SUPPORT the Apartheid-Free Community (AFC) pledge, and DEMAND that the
Burlington City Council place the AFC advisory referendum question on the town meeting day 2026
ballot.

[end of open letter]

What is the NPA?
Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs) are grassroots, neighborhood organizations that were
established in each of Burlington's wards to encourage resident participation in City government.
Working as neighborhood advocacy groups, Neighborhood Planning Assemblies help improve
communication between the residents of Burlington and City government through regular meetings
scheduled in each Ward. For more information, click here.

What is involved in being on the Ward 6 NPA Steering Committee?
The Steering Committee is responsible for managing the affairs of the NPA, which includes organizing,
publicizing, and overseeing regular and special NPA meetings; sharing information about the NPA with
neighbors and the wider community; monitoring community developments and City policy to identify
issues relevant to the neighborhood and inviting speakers to present at the NPA; and overseeing the
NPA’s budget from the City. We typically meet once each month to plan the following month’s meeting,
and then have various tasks to follow up on (such as contacting speakers, arranging for food, etc.).




 Page 2 of 20
 REIB CHARTER CHANGE
OFFICE OF RACIAL EQUITY, INCLUSION, & BELONGING (REIB)
 January 15, 2026


 REIB CHARTER CHANGE MARCH 3, 3026 BALLOT
 Page 3 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 4 of 20
 REIB Charter Change
 January 15, 2026




NPA MEETINGS: REIB CHARTER CHANGE Page 5 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 6 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 7 of 20
  FY27 General Fund Budget &
Police and Fire Tax Rate Increase
 NPA Presentation
 January-February 2026

 Page 8 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 9 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 10 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 11 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 12 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 13 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 14 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 15 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 16 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 17 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 18 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 19 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 20 of 20

Ward 6 NPA Meeting Agenda
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Location: Department of Public Works, 645 Pine Street

6:30 Call to Order,
 • Introductions
 • Announcements
 o Nancy Harkins: Proposed Charter Change to ban guns in bars. That bill is still sitting in the
 House Committee. Nancy urges us to contact our reps to encourage them to vote for it.
 o Alan Matson, Ward Clerk. Town Meeting Day election on March 6. Looking for additional
 people to work at the polls. Ballots will be mailed out around 2/15 to all registered
 voters. If you’re going to vote by mail be sure to vote early. There are also drop boxes, in
 front of DPW, downtown at City Hall. Voting will be in the Edmunds Elementary Gym. If
 you come to vote in person, please bring your ballot with you. You can still vote even if
 you don’t, but it’s more efficient if you bring it.
 o FaRied: distributing a petition on behalf of Proposition Zero, to support putting ballot
 items on the ballot without approval by City Hall. And looking for people to distribute this
 petition at the polling places
 • Nomination of Hannah Riley to the Steering Committee and vote – Unanimous vote
 • Call for additional Steering Committee members

6:45: Shall the Ward 6 NPA express its support for the sentiments expressed in the Open Letter to City
Council that was presented to us at our December 4, 2025 meeting? (Text of Letter is below the agenda.).
 • Romeo Von Hermann’s alternate proposal (appended below)
 • Comments from members of the public can be viewed in the online recording
 • Amendment defeated 5-9
 • Resolution passed 7-6


7:15 School Budget Presentation and Candidate introduction: Clare Wool (candidate for re-election) and
Jeff Wick
 • Slight decrease in school population. This appears to be due to a lack of housing, not people
 choosing other schools.
 • Trimming costs in tandem with that
 • Working to control costs – reducing number of teachers, reducing admin and central office staff
 • High school expected to open in August. Impact of borrowing is complete. Did not have to spend
 the entire bond. But this has resulted in increased costs (bond service). Will no longer be paying
 rent.
 • Teacher salaries are in the middle for Chittenden County.
 • Ballot item will show the total budget, including federal funds, etc.
 • Overall budget is increasing by 4.7%
 • Ballot question 4 is about an honorarium for school board members, roughly $50/meeting. We
 want to support engagement for people who want to run for office.
7:30 City Ballot items
 • Tax Fairness Advisory Question and Public Safety Tax Increase: Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak
 o Tax Fairness Advisory Quesiton was not supported by a majority of the City Council
 o City Budget:
 ▪ Our budget is not actually required until the spring
 ▪ Working to move the budget process earlier, but it’s still not set for this year
 ▪ There is an estimated $10-12M budget gap (general fund). This doesn’t include
 BED, Airport, Church Street Market Place, etc.
 ▪ Adding 2 new firefighters to respond to safe staffing requirements.
 ▪ General cost of living increases
 ▪ Need new vehicles for first responders.
 ▪ Cause of deficit:
 • Slow growth (1%/year) in grand list
 • Reliance on one-time funds from COVID and other federal funds
 ▪ To deal with budget gap:
 • Ballot item to put a 5 cent increase on police and fire tax, which would
 yield about $3 million
 • One-time funds, enhanced collections
 • “Right-sizing” to reduce staff 5-10%. But this will impact services the city
 provides.
 • Also considering selling some city properties.
 • Proposed Racial Equity Inclusion and Belonging Charter Change: REIB Communications and
 Community Engagement Manager Christian Berry and Katie Green, Community and Belonging
 Program Manager
 o Proposed charter change to make the REIB Office an official and permanent part of city
 government
 o Diversity Equity and Inclusion is a set of tools to evaluate whether the city is meeting the
 needs of all residents and make that happen
 o City Council members Buddy Singh and Becca Brown McKnight submitted statements,
 both in support of the ballot initiative
 o

8:20 Adjourn
Open Letter to City Council (referenced above)(passed)

Dear Burlington City Council & Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak,
Democrats on the City Council blocked the AFC pledge advisory question from going to voters two years
in a row, despite thousands of Burlington residents signing petitions to put the pledge on the ballot. In
April 2025, the Council unanimously approved a resolution for protecting free speech on Palestine, and it
is time to rectify the fact that our free speech rights have been repeatedly denied. There should be a
democratic vote on adopting the pledge.
THE APARTHEID-FREE COMMUNITY PLEDGE:
WE AFFIRM our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and all people;
and
WE OPPOSE all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression; and
WE DECLARE ourselves an Apartheid-free community and to that end,
WE PLEDGE to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s Apartheid regime, settler colonialism,
and military occupation.
We, the undersigned, SUPPORT the Apartheid-Free Community (AFC) pledge, and DEMAND that the
Burlington City Council place the AFC advisory referendum question on the town meeting day 2026
ballot.

[end of open letter]




Proposed Amendment offered by Romeo Von Hermann: (defeated)

Dear Burlington City Council and Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak,

We, the Ward 6 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA), write in response to the City Council’s most
recent vote regarding the Apartheid-Free Community (AFC) pledge.

Over the past several years, the AFC advisory question did not advance to the ballot despite securing the
required petition signatures from Burlington residents. In April 2025, the City Council unanimously
adopted a resolution affirming protections for free speech. In light of that action, we believe it is
appropriate to continue discussion around the AFC pledge and to provide an opportunity for broader
community engagement.

We respect and recognize the City Council’s vote and its role in setting policies, and we appreciate the
seriousness with which these matters are considered. At the same time, we believe it would be
constructive to provide members of the Ward 6 NPA, including the Steering Committee, as well the
South District and the wider community, an opportunity to weigh in on the Council’s vote and its
implications.

The Ward 6 NPA Alternate AFC Pledge:

THE APARTHEID-FREE COMMUNITY PLEDGE:

 • WE AFFIRM our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for all people; and
 • WE OPPOSE all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression; and

 • WE DECLARE ourselves an apartheid-free community and, to that end,

 • WE PLEDGE to join others in working to end support for apartheid policies at home around the
 world.

We, the undersigned, support continued dialogue around the Apartheid-Free Community pledge.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,
Ward 6 Neighborhood Planning Assembly