[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6345979,"mediaKeyId","2247712-f218574f38a93219c3e5b22e68afab85","parentId",2247712,"title","South Burlington Council accepts FY24 audit showing $1.3 million surplus, clean opinion","audioSeconds",1316,"startMs",4132000,"endMs",5448000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247712-f218574f38a93219c3e5b22e68afab85&start=4132&end=5448","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247712-f218574f38a93219c3e5b22e68afab85/thumbnail_4132000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345979/South-Burlington-City/Chittenden-County/Vermont/South-Burlington-Council-accepts-FY24-audit-showing-13-million-surplus-clean-opinion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345979-b16e1cf377a44ab351d614642974a542/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194288&Signature=HtajkUGZbNqxA7svvDgMrBNxKld9-SvH2HQYAl7Mg94rXI52mBoPydINaohCafOaGppWSfYZ2X96fMx3fbxw23CDwTjUoiSD-nkALtHtVSCh91D6gXA~w1tft59a~Q65EBxsC3sgCs9PR8ApBnnNGz9GB8aeTiZMPrkK4X~z22J0XU6TtrQ6FaY4JkzfJ3TsLavn5J29md2POVuOeuccGl4GOIJ8pKXMLW30-SI0QJvEM2-Z-txifttPTKvU5I6SVc2IqgySGmGUIWIYGSWSchH-Q2IrfXWrVaHTMGtlgZz95RVXaONTrn7uT0r3pEZYDFxpgpqt7d7-lE9B1oz3jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Burlington City, VT","date","2025-02-07T09:59:32Z","article","South Burlington City Council voted Feb. 6, 2025, to accept the city’s audited financial statements for fiscal year 2024 after a presentation by auditors from RHR Smith & Company. Auditor John Boulay, the audit manager on the engagement, told the council the previously reported surplus \"stayed at 1.3\" (million) and the firm issued an unmodified — commonly called a clean — opinion.

Boulay summarized the audit’s key points: the general fund and capital funds were largely consistent with prior years, enterprise funds (recreation, water, water pollution control and stormwater) showed modest fund-balance increases, and the financial statement notes disclose a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bond with proceeds recorded in the TIF fund. He told the council the audit found no material weaknesses, no significant deficiencies and no questioned costs in the single-audit testing of federal funds. \"That number has not changed. It stayed at 1.3,\" Boulay said when describing the surplus.

Heather Hunter, audit director on the engagement, and Boulay said the auditors tested the city's coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds (ARPA/CSLFRF) as part of the single-audit procedures. Hunter said the city received an unmodified opinion and the audit produced no management letter comments requiring corrective action. \"I would also congratulate the city on an on modified or a clean opinion,\" Hunter said; the auditors noted no disagreements with management.

City Finance Director Martha (last name not specified in the transcript) briefed councilors on fund-balance details and highlighted an \"aviation fund\" balance resulting from aviation-fuel sales. She said the aviation fund held about $878,000 at year end and noted those funds can be used for airport improvements.

Councilors asked routine questions about outstanding checks, internal controls and how the new financial system under development will affect next year’s audit. Boulay said the finance team cooperated closely during field work and that reconciliation and controls were strong. He noted an earlier outstanding-check comment was removed after staff explained outreach and follow-up procedures.

Councilor Mike moved to accept the audit and the motion was seconded; the council approved the audit in open session with an affirmative voice vote (the roll call indicated four affirmative votes after one councilor had left the meeting). \"All credit to Martha and her team,\" one councilor said after the vote.

The council’s acceptance completes the formal audit-review step for FY24. City staff and auditors said follow-up items will be handled through normal budget and finance oversight as needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","South Burlington City Council - 1/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","City auditors RHR Smith presented the FY24 financial statements and single-audit results; the council accepted the audit, which reported a $1.3 million surplus, an unmodified (clean) opinion and no material weaknesses or single-audit findings.","taxTitle","South Burlington City, Chittenden County, Vermont","taxId",2752,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6345984,"South Burlington holds interviews for Natural Resources and Conservation Committee seats",3165,915000,4080000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247712-f218574f38a93219c3e5b22e68afab85&start=915&end=4080","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247712-f218574f38a93219c3e5b22e68afab85/thumbnail_915000.jpg","/articles/6345984/South-Burlington-City/Chittenden-County/Vermont/South-Burlington-holds-interviews-for-Natural-Resources-and-Conservation-Committee-seats","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345984-a1a3716ed49a9097312aec5021e3e98a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194288&Signature=Zf0l6Duz8lX9qXSIBCCS74Kb2tEOxCW-1qoD1nH0i3GQbQTsAdjEc~wlHi9Q77yOEdexQUvjlJeX7CbRzSF8rl9OExMPwIOo3Z1G9EjOE4Itn9TXKhhsEhjTA3VXWGARyWlpLq4CLfiR8XJlFhhncz371a~ZoqO4TsDwnY1so6c5gaC8yNJcfQpxRKgTIst4giWtminHE1oygeT1OMkmVkXJ2b85k8q0giV8o3ko08wE4VrVGDkWDYXRtNGeuoISyurY8DolfOpy~j~oqJZWcMMuyYeFqKCQkwh3YaUmjYJBiYviHD~gR0qq5pXs0ELj8BcWfFXU3XPxMjj-jpCduA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","South Burlington City Council interviewed four applicants for openings on the Natural Resources and Conservation Committee on Feb. 6, 2025, hearing from candidates about stormwater planning, community gardens, habitat protection and invasive-species management.

The interviews, held during the council’s special meeting, included Fran McDonald, who said she served on the Planning Commission and the South Burlington Land Trust and cited stormwater work on Potash Brook and an Adelphia scoping study near the Xfinity site as priorities. \"Since moving here, I've been always interested in and involved in things related to the natural resources in within South Burlington,\" McDonald said.

Jean Hunt described a long-term professional background in wildlife and environmental education and said she would bring an \"ecological lens\" to city planning. She raised concerns about development practices that create large monoculture lawns and advocated for more habitat diversity and neighborhood-level community gardens. \"I just think the constant taking away of nature and land with development,\" Hunt said, \"...has a lot of room for improvement.\"

Jessica Wickel, who works in UVM’s forestry program and manages UVM land, said she supports community engagement projects such as invasive-species removal and volunteer trail work. \"I currently work at UVM in the forestry program,\" Wickel said, describing prior service on a tree committee that helped a Massachusetts town become a Tree City USA.

Noah Hoffman, an invasive-species coordinator at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, outlined experience with landscape-scale restoration, emerald ash borer planning and municipal grant projects. \"I work for the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, in particular I work for the Department of Forest Parks and Recreation, and I'm part of the Forest Health Program,\" Hoffman said.

Councilors asked candidates about the city’s open-space and parks master planning process and how NRCC work could further equity and access. Candidates proposed a mix of strategies: improving physical access where feasible, creating small pollinator or habitat plots on small lots, expanding community garden plots and using digital tools (QR codes, iNaturalist mapping) to connect residents to local biodiversity.

Councilors also confirmed candidates understood the NRCC’s meeting schedule and time commitments (committee members said they meet monthly). The council did not make appointments at the Feb. 6 meeting; members said they will move into executive session after completing all interviews and then return to open session to vote on appointments at a later date.

The council indicated multiple terms were available and that, where needed, the council would assign candidates to either shorter or longer terms as part of the appointment process.

Votes and formal appointments were not taken during the Feb. 6 session; the interviews will be considered alongside other applicants at the next appointment round.","Council interviewed four candidates for openings on the Natural Resources and Conservation Committee (NRCC) — Fran McDonald, Jean Hunt, Jessica Wickel and Noah Hoffman — and scheduled appointments to be decided after executive-session deliberations at a later meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

South Burlington Council accepts FY24 audit showing $1.3 million surplus, clean opinion

South Burlington holds interviews for Natural Resources and Conservation Committee seats