TOPSHAM BUDGET COMMITTEE MINUTES
MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 2024
Present: Donna Otterman (Budget Committee Chair), Yvette Tomlinson, Susan Pratt, Susan Hood (Budget Committee), Jake Thompson, Thomas Otterman, James Bulger, Carl Hildebrandt, Bradford Calhoun (Select Board), Cynthia Flannigan (Town Clerk) and via Microsoft Teams: Janice Emerson (Budget Committee)
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
Motion was made by Jim Bulger and seconded by Yvette Tomlinson to approve minutes for December 11, 2023. Approved unanimously.
Income Budget for 2024 discussed:
Tax Related
Property Taxes unknown at this time
Delinquent Taxes unknown at this time
Delinquent Tax Interest $8,000.00 – increase of $500.00
Delinquent Taxes other $0
Tax Sale Redemption $0
School Reconciliation Pay unknown at this time
State of Vermont
Property Tax $12,500.00
Land Use $73,000.00 – decrease of $4,000.00
Act 60 Equalized Ed. $850.00
Pilot Payments $600.00
Lister’s Training $0
Late HS-122 Town Payment $0
Clerk Revenue
Clerk Office Fees $13, 000.00
Liquor Licenses $0
Other Revenue
Interest $14,000.00 – increase of $13,000.00
Town Hall Rental $0
Town Hall Donations $0
Pound Fees $1,000.00
Revenue from Reserves unknown at this time
Grant Money $0
Town History $0
Shipping & Handling $0
Metal Dumpster Fees $0
Tire Recycling Fees $0
Clothing Sales $0
Poster Sales $0
Cookbook Sales $0
Veteran DVD’s $0
Notecards $0
Civil Fines Collected $0
Veterans Memorials $0
Misc Revenue $0
Revenues
Property Taxes $0
HWY State Aid $65,000.00 – decrease of $70,000.00
HWY Paving Grant $0
Bridge Grant $0
Revenue from Reserve unknown at this time
Grant Money $200,000.00 – an increase of $200,000.00
Sale of Equipment $0
Insurance Claims $0
Misc. Revenue $0
Trust & Agency
Voter Appropriation $0
Property Taxes $0
Sale of Lots $0
Waits River Cem. Sale of $0
Revenue from Reserves unknown at this time
Waits River Cem. Fees $0
Interest $0
Waits River Cemetery Int. $0
Dividend Income $0
Investment Income $0
Monies from Reserve $0
Grant Money $0
Donations/Gifts $0
ARPA
ARPA Revenue $0
Land Use was decreased because this year’s amount reflected penalties that were captured for withdrawals of a few parcels. This is not anticipated to occur in 2024.
Clerk fees were not increased due to the larger than normal volume of recording in 2023 that is not predicted to continue in 2024 due to sales.
Interest was increased by $13,000.00 after reviewing the actual interest in 2023 due ARPA funds. It is anticipated that half of the ARPA funds will be spent in 2024 so the interest was increased by half of the 2023 actual earned.
HWY State Aid was reduced from the $135,000.00 in 2023 to $65,000.00 because the state made 2 of the 2024 payments in advance in 2023 in order to help towns with flooding expenses.
The Grant Money increase of $200,000.00 is due to an anticipated FEMA reimbursement for flood damage costs.
Other Budget Expense Items Discussed:
General Fund Payroll
FICA $9,700.00 – increase of $1,200.00
VMERS $3,225.00
Health Insurance $21,000.00 – increase from earlier amount by $1,000.00
Town Office
Equipment $1,650.00 – decrease from earlier amount by $850.00
General Expenditures
Parcel Maps and Lister Card on line was removed – decrease of $3,800.00
Fire & Rescue
Ambulance Contract $76,200.00
Highway Payroll
FICA $15,000.00
VMERS $6,350.00
Health Insurance $44,000.00 – an increase from earlier amount by $8,000.00
FICA for the General Fund and Highway Payroll is based on the proposed salaries.
VMERS for the General Fund Town Clerk and Treasurer is a new line item for 2024.
The Town Clerk and treasurer salaries were revisited. Hours and salaries from local towns were considered. It was voted (8 in favor) to leave the salaries as proposed.
The Town Office Equipment amount was reduced by $850.00 to $1,650.00 because there were 2023 funds available for the purchase of a new computer and monitors and telephone for the listers and these were purchased in 2023.
The proposed new Lister project of adding Parcel Maps and Lister Cards on line was removed from the budget.
Motion to adjourn meeting was made by Jim Bulger and seconded by Jake Thompson. Approved unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 6:38 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Hood, Secretary