Town Report and Budget

Town Report

Each February, in anticipation of Town Meeting, the Town of Manchester publishes a Town Report. The Town Report includes the report of officers of the Town, financial information, the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, and a list of elected and appointed Town officials.

The entire 2010 (parts A and B) and 2009 Town Reports (including the approved FY 2012 budget), as well as the 2009 Town Report, can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

The Selectboard normally dedicates the Town Report to a group of citizens or individuals in the Town that have made significant contributions to the Town. Since 1992 past honorees include:

• 2011 - To be announced on Monday, February 6, 2012
• 2010 - Don and Nancy Otis
• 2009 - Police Chief Manfred ("Fred") A. Wessner 
• 2008 - Doug and Cynthia Kilburn
• 2007 - World War Two Veterans
• 2006 - Ron and Cheryl Wilcox
• 2005 - Manchester Fire Department Members
• 2004 - Stanley S. Hinkley
• 2003 - Mary Hard Bort
• 2002 - Jeff Wilson, former Town Manager
• 2001 - Doug Shaw, former member of the Planning Commission
• 2000 - Howard Wechsler, Zoning Board of Adjustment Chair
• 1999 - Betty A. Tobin, Town employee
• 1998 - I. Stanford Zecher, Jr.
• 1997 - Barbara Cross
• 1996 - Ferdinand "Nundy" Bongartz
• 1995 - Madeline and Clifford "Doc" Harwood
• 1994 - Howard Dailey, Manchester Fire Department
• 1993 - Oscar Johnson Jr.
• 1992 - Chris Swezey, Manchester Fire Department

FY 2012 Town Budget: The Selectboard at its January 20 meeting approved the budget for Fiscal Year 2012. The budget was approved by Town Meeting without amendments on February 26, 2011. A copy of the approved budget for FY 2012 (beginning July 1, 2011) can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

Like the past several years, the FY 2012 budget can be best described as austere. Overall proposed spending is $6,965,283, while property tax spending is slated to increase 1% or $22,277 compared to last fiscal year and the operating budget decrease 2.4%. Over the past four fiscal years the Town has done some significant belt tightening. Between Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2012, the municipal property levy (the total amount of property taxes collected) increased by a total of $166,114, from $2,079,569 in Fiscal Year 2008 to $2,245,683 in Fiscal Year 2012, or an average of $41,529 per year. This represents a collective increase of 7.99% or a yearly average of less than 2%. When adjusted for inflation using the consumer price index (CPI-U), the budget actually decreased by approximately $9,000 over the same period of time. By comparison, between Fiscal Year 2004 and Fiscal Year 2008, the municipal property tax levy increased by a total of $455,773, from $1,623,796 in Fiscal Year 2004 to $2,079,569 in Fiscal Year 2008, or an average of $113,944 per year. This represents a collective increase of 28% or an average of 7% per year.

The approved FY 2012 budget:

• Invests $90,000 in the Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park and increases pool maintenance and parks maintenance.
• Invests additional funds in the Police Department equipment, training and personnel and reduces overall General Fund personnel expenses by approximately $13,000. 
• Eliminates one part-time employee in the Planning and Zoning Office.
• Includes funding and related revenues to mow the ground of Manchester Elementary Middle School.
• Reduces the Town's reliance on reserve funds including the Allocated Surplus Fund and Taxpayer Relief Reserve Fund.
• Consolidates travel and advertising expenses.
• Includes funding for a new work truck and backhoe for the Department of Public Works.
• Increases the property tax burden by a modest 2%, or less than $25,000 and Water and Sewer Rates by approximately 3%.

Please note that all General Fund personnel accounts were consolidated in FY 2011 into 1-4-2800-00 and are no longer in individual departments.

Individuals with questions or comments about the FY 2012 budget can email John O'Keefe, Town Manager, at j.okeefe@manchester-vt.gov or call (802) 362-1313 (option 2).

The Town of Manchester operates on a fiscal year that begins on July 1 of each year and ends on the following June 30. The Town Report includes the proposed budget for the next fiscal year.

Budget Process Overview

In 2008 the Town of Manchester Selectboard adopted an innovative two year budgeting process. According to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT), Manchester is one of the only municipalities in Vermont that currently utilizes a two year budget planning process. The second year of the two year budget process is for planning purposes only and is not included in the Town Meeting vote or Town Report. The budget submitted by the Town Manager on December 11, 2009 includes recommendations for Fiscal Year 2011 and 2012.

The following is a typical budget schedule:

• In August Selectboard approves Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that details the Town's  capital needs for six fiscal years
• In September the Town Manager solicits budget proposals from heads of departments through a document called the "budget call letter"
• In October heads of departments submit budget proposals to the Town Manager with supporting documentation
• In October and November the Town Manager works with heads of departments to develop Town Manager's budget recommendations to the Selectboard
• In December the Town Manager submits the budget recommendation to Selectboard
• In mid-December the Selectboard holds public meeting to review budget recommendation submitted by Town Manager and to accept public comments
• In January the Selectboard approves the Selectboard budget
• In February the Selectboard budget is printed in Town Report
• In late February or early March Town Meeting discusses and votes on Selectboard budget 
• In July the Town management team begins to implement the Town Meeting approved budget