[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6204618,"mediaKeyId","3778544-f592d923b16fdb42ec1bc655e4cc6a7e","parentId",3778544,"title","Commission reviews $2.88 million FY26 budget; financial procedures updated to add finance assistant role","audioSeconds",516,"startMs",4135000,"endMs",4651000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778544-f592d923b16fdb42ec1bc655e4cc6a7e&start=4135&end=4651","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778544-f592d923b16fdb42ec1bc655e4cc6a7e/thumbnail_4135000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6204618/Rutland-County/Vermont/Commission-reviews-288-million-FY26-budget-financial-procedures-updated-to-add-finance-assistant-role","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204618-7ac21428b44ccff37908f556aa1dfef3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773656031&Signature=l~iKP2s8gbPS5r8VInXo-4zAJhpWN6qrhJb9kEIR8ChJP3C4161iK0tdejj5~Ln~X4nSl9gkwV82uFFlRiWuKc8Jw-b9guyljY6zL6U0QL2VZHUSeovs~J2rv8ZBJIYY5YnPTI830nHko5r98VYvRbL6JmUMq9CpMlZEr6yOkpVAwfkX4JQxQFHbeo5E7kaKLtQizW7imwtxdM9twCuWA2IVLYGRPgC~mIaAeCmzO0Fz3m7Q7yGmhy8k1Z02RONELa89JYr962MRfUqqiwZaCEWVVNrMQSwWrML7ezjRUJyS7r0qSVLMocEyEU7LFD6nfEfILf9MgNe9lXG8-46RZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rutland Regional Planning Commission, VT","date","2025-06-12T04:07:02.963Z","article","Devin Neary and Mary Kate Gazzer reviewed the FY26 budget and updated financial procedures on June 9.

Neary summarized the FY26 budget as the largest to date, driven largely by pass-through contracted services: \"So, I mean, 2,877,000.000 is our biggest budget yet. A lot of that is a pass through,\" he said. Staff noted contracted services increased by roughly $450,000 year over year to reflect planned project work, including multi-year grants such as Work6 and clean-water service-provider agreements. The budget includes the commission operating staff of 11 full-time employees, two part-time employees and three interns and assumes no fund-balance reserve draw for FY26.

Gazzer explained a $22,000 increase to Department of Environmental Conservation revenues tied to updated partner commitments for a South Lake Champlain clean-water service provider project; she confirmed the revenue increase is offset by a corresponding $22,000 increase to contracted services and therefore is net neutral. She also said the commission conservatively omitted uncertain revenues (for example, FEMA’s EMPG grant) from the FY26 revenue forecast.

On financial procedures, staff proposed incorporating the finance assistant into internal-control processes and delegating select tasks (for example, limited journal entries and invoice processing) to the assistant once the procedures are updated and approved. Commissioners asked whether the board need approve the assistant’s duties; staff clarified that changes to formal financial procedures typically come before the board. Staff said they will wait to incorporate the finance assistant’s feedback into a revised procedures draft if that feedback is provided before the packet is finalized.

No final budget adoption vote was recorded in the June 9 session; staff said they will present a revised budget in Q2 of the fiscal year if necessary after federal and state funding clarifications.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","RRPC Executive Finance Committee - June 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission reviewed a proposed FY26 budget of roughly $2.877 million (large portion pass-through contract work), an increase in contracted services driven by program activity, and proposed financial procedure updates to incorporate a finance assistant and clarify internal controls.","taxTitle","Rutland County, Vermont","taxId",2750,"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},6204622,"April P&L shows roughly $136,000 net income; AR and cash flow reviewed",228,190000,418000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778544-f592d923b16fdb42ec1bc655e4cc6a7e&start=190&end=418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778544-f592d923b16fdb42ec1bc655e4cc6a7e/thumbnail_190000.jpg","/articles/6204622/Rutland-County/Vermont/April-PL-shows-roughly-136000-net-income-AR-and-cash-flow-reviewed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204622-e577f51fb41439f1a9d0149f19833c99/orig.mp4?Expires=1773656031&Signature=UV6wEQVq5uxLqH6hVTEo4NQMHguJttZAnkhkEhpvGj4R4QUEV8igpKmZOxAVF6Jv~xaBErg83y31-8NlTB05nO8~VkKHLc3cjSd2fNo5iA6lTAlMJ3Nktxx9opAbTOAr7qCZAdvHuDQA1nxZrnYFWl2m7xHq7zwGDwnsl3otY66OXxA-7yiX60rTaRhPDyt5Jm7hPdGMJ1KALU78xqQNpK-oZEqLMW8jTPmi5QkIekcFqCz3cdbgWBrQwPNXZFD8d1z~TGph8nEen6XTflaIzfWCCzS1nCyoTTz1AlOB70AEPrBgC6A8I~lU2ZRemn0ROUb8VhgH7LErzWB1YJoPUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mary Kate Gazzer, staff, presented the April profit-and-loss and accounts-receivable report to the commission on June 9. Gazzer said the April P&L \"reflects the net income of roughly a $136,000,\" primarily because the fourth-quarter ACCD payment invoice was sent in March.

Gazzer walked commissioners through revenue-line variations: several state and federal grant lines (Vermont Agency of Transportation, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, US Department of Energy and EPA) were lower than budgeted because projects remain in development or grants were canceled (she said an anticipated EECBG grant was canceled). Gazzer stressed that consultant expenditures are reimbursed and therefore do not materially change net income.

On receivables, Gazzer reported that as of April 30 accounts receivable totaled roughly $304,000, of which about $34,500 are funds to be transferred between internal accounts. She later said the accounts-receivable tally had decreased to roughly $165,000 as of the meeting due to collections and adjustments. Gazzer said staff \"completed an updated cash flow and hours projection in May, and, we're anticipating that the FY25 will end in the black.\" She added the budgeted $18,000 draw from the fund balance reserve is now expected to be unnecessary due to projected cash flows.

Gazzer invited questions and then handed the meeting back to the director. No formal motions or votes on financial policy were taken at the meeting.","Staff reported April profit-and-loss showing about $136,000 net income driven by a fourth-quarter ACCD invoice; accounts receivable and updated cashflow projections were discussed and staff said FY25 is expected to end in the black.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6204625,"Commission reviews multi-point employee handbook revisions including parental leave and holidays",1822,1309000,3131000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778544-f592d923b16fdb42ec1bc655e4cc6a7e&start=1309&end=3131","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778544-f592d923b16fdb42ec1bc655e4cc6a7e/thumbnail_1309000.jpg","/articles/6204625/Rutland-County/Vermont/Commission-reviews-multi-point-employee-handbook-revisions-including-parental-leave-and-holidays","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204625-173920ef646026e7d5162ea646c57ede/orig.mp4?Expires=1773656031&Signature=BOhkbcg1oB7OKfLFwShC0Kl4YXATfnCcathxUVjJhx~AtVTvE1gub0lixSN5a9PuzQLLxGcBWpCZloOCpcQ-L2wAQWgkrGEcy-jeNSHSC6Sc-OW56CgjjUhyfN-tnwlII~azBPbgu7BDSNd3xGRknXpueXuT4kJnv0ebEwpf~Hj97FwE68QbSR3apu-xgiGjhCD-QU-jNlDC3Zr8htTL4dUraVCcMuIihFGLULwFA19~3kV06peP4PSgY1YQDMQltaBRsCkhtzD7dpN9Rda-l59cOeTnmtPNEt9cIBVC5neAy-bVWveTfQZAWvyuGaX2A77DBJ4vdGV3jmCe~5SLrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Staff presented multiple proposed revisions to the employee handbook and fielded commissioner questions about tax treatment, eligibility and operational impacts.

Mary Kate Gazzer, staff, said the attorney (Andy Moss) recommended clarifying language about taxable reimbursements under professional development: \"if courses means class, then note that any reimbursement could be taxable income to the employee,\" and staff proposed adding that language. The attorney also requested that \"at-will\" employment language be bolded. Andy Moss’s comments were incorporated as attorney edits in the draft.

On benefits, staff proposed removing eligibility for part-time employee medical and dental coverage because there were currently no part-time employees eligible and administering pro-rated coverage would create ongoing administrative burden. Commissioners agreed this was appropriate given present staffing.

On wellness reimbursement, staff reported the existing $300 wellness reimbursement had been treated as non-taxable but payroll review and auditor guidance indicated it should have been treated as taxable. Staff proposed increasing the reimbursement to offset tax withholding; transcript records the proposal as to \"bump that up to 5\" but the exact amount was not explicit in the meeting record.

Staff proposed deleting a rarely used paid community-service day and replacing it with an additional holiday described in the handbook as a floating birthday: employees may take one additional paid day within two weeks before or after their birthday. Commissioners discussed fiscal-year timing and agreed staff could add a small scheduling buffer when administering the benefit.

On paid parental leave, staff proposed four weeks of paid leave within 12 months following the birth, fostering or adoption of a child. Staff and commissioners discussed whether to cover medically necessary pre-birth leave under the parental policy. Staff reported attorney and insurance advice favored treating pregnancy-related medical leave under short-term disability or Vermont parental and family leave programs and reserving the new paid parental leave for the period after the employee becomes a parent: \"really, it's like this is meant for the after,\" a staff presenter said.

Other handbook clarifications included overtime eligibility language for exempt and nonexempt staff, mileage reimbursement wording, remote work and job-description clarifications, COBRA template updates to the VIPER template, and bolding harassment and retaliation language per attorney guidance. Several clarifying edits were proposed but no formal board vote was taken Thursday; staff will incorporate attorney-recommended language and return a final draft.","Commissioners reviewed proposed updates to the employee handbook covering professional-development reimbursements, health-insurance incentives, part-time benefit eligibility, wellness reimbursement tax treatment, a new floating birthday holiday and paid parental leave rules.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6204627,"Commissioners to receive new handbook to streamline onboarding",149,847000,996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778544-f592d923b16fdb42ec1bc655e4cc6a7e&start=847&end=996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778544-f592d923b16fdb42ec1bc655e4cc6a7e/thumbnail_847000.jpg","/articles/6204627/Rutland-County/Vermont/Commissioners-to-receive-new-handbook-to-streamline-onboarding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204627-d0b1e474540ad37527366b49e744804b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773656031&Signature=gHG5Yb7lQHF6hBx7E5hQevnCbGTwGu1hc6Qhz7gy2tGxAmCY5KrJMa52gEXTVy9D-RsNzEAb8f8UuyqSePynm9frr6Vwtpl96Je0gbjIhAhdQGyEsjQ2OVxb4lnLYwkw2B2O~J5nsi7CcrjEXsJyUUeurtdZ1YvPfxNykzBvUeDXjLik3WdUU~wP7tBDTFMtgJlyAxu607l7Z9P4ro1p3k836Q9gIS-2Z4P0YDbk0CERdiiz1W5t6HVHtBO72nva-b-QOh4TGAuDQ0LPIdT2Jm1acvm9Mpp7X5A2cx3zwjJcgQi5X6yLhtlqCYdZ00HojpFS3Bl6OokDnmRGRlq8uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Devin Neary, executive director, showed commissioners a new commissioners’ handbook designed to consolidate information about board roles, committees and procedures and said it will be posted on the RPC website under Board and Committees.

Neary said the handbook has already been used by a new commissioner: \"Jim Marsh, the new commissioner from Rutland Town, met with me the other day, and he used this commissioner handbook to sort of better understand what he was really needing to do as a commissioner.\" Commissioners discussed minor edits and asked that the handbook be updated quickly after new FY26 leadership committee assignments are finalized.

Neary said the handbook is intended to reduce the need for individual onboarding meetings and to provide new members with clear role descriptions, contact details and committee expectations. Commissioners welcomed the handbook as a tool for consistency and onboarding, and the director said the handbook will be updated as committee structures change next fiscal year.","The commission presented a new commissioners’ handbook intended to standardize onboarding and reduce individual orientation time for new board members.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6204629,"Regional plan moves into final drafting stage, to be sent to Vermont Land Use Review Board",126,435000,561000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778544-f592d923b16fdb42ec1bc655e4cc6a7e&start=435&end=561","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778544-f592d923b16fdb42ec1bc655e4cc6a7e/thumbnail_435000.jpg","/articles/6204629/Rutland-County/Vermont/Regional-plan-moves-into-final-drafting-stage-to-be-sent-to-Vermont-Land-Use-Review-Board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204629-6a68c33da96c30b9a034509ca74b9f31/orig.mp4?Expires=1773656031&Signature=oFk~jdXMeGper4CT0qfUK6ARdGOvcdwsMioQaf1GxWIUxFAEGblKBp8pAj8jpfsFTdvFZfFh9ttNosL8sYSOURcPdj9riY1Uen6bwNxcdoYpLd4Xt128ZmBPsZbr5Dh3ltJq87XOl6PBHGz6IMxv7Kz3~OorNdUYfK6xNDe8h0GkPk1jRkrIaAZ9Kz2jC5lgMUWsR~-icm9iHzyDdNw99ShZKuz4EYYWv4usjxrbsWE5kyGeKhuA0p-c7Ack4RB57raUW3~zPxyI0yNf4i9Zi7umDdM022h74kcVYWKSO5myVQXNV6JNVugAmEggAuah5CXnsCoia7vDqtCkcGxuPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Devin Neary, executive director of the Rutland County Regional Planning Commission, told commissioners on June 9 that staff will begin a concentrated final drafting phase for the regional plan in June and July and intends to use phase-3 engagement results and public survey feedback to guide the last revision.

Neary said the commission will ask the board in September to preliminarily adopt the plan so the commission can \"send it to the land use review board.\" He added that the commission expects the formal adoption process to run from mid-September through April of the next year and described the Land Use Review Board review as a multistep, multiagency process: \"they do their review, but it goes to five different state agencies. And we don't have to deal with the agency comments. The comments go directly to the Land Use Review Board,\" Neary said.

The presentational draft is posted on the regional plan website in full layout, Neary said, with chapter summaries, maps and a 393-page visual draft available for review. Staff are scheduling pop-up events, public meetings and targeted outreach — including Front Porch Forum, Facebook and a mailer — through the end of the month to collect final feedback. Neary said staff have met with all 27 towns already and that more than half of requested map revisions have been addressed.

Neary described the Land Use Review Board as a newly constituted five-member, full-time panel appointed by the governor. He said the commission will be among the first regions to go through the new board’s review, after which the board will determine which agency comments are applicable.

Commissioners were asked to block out time in late June and early July for staff-led review sessions and to expect a September preliminary adoption vote to start the formal review and adoption process.

The commission emphasized public engagement in July and possibly August, then the September preliminary adoption to trigger the Land Use Review Board review and the multiagency comment period.","The Rutland County regional plan entered its final drafting phase in June, with staff planning a concentrated push through July and a timeline that would send the draft to the new Vermont Land Use Review Board for formal review this fall.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission reviews $2.88 million FY26 budget; financial procedures updated to add finance assistant role

April P&L shows roughly $136,000 net income; AR and cash flow reviewed

Commission reviews multi-point employee handbook revisions including parental leave and holidays

Commissioners to receive new handbook to streamline onboarding

Regional plan moves into final drafting stage, to be sent to Vermont Land Use Review Board