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Board recommends $20 million water bond; staff outlines phasing and peer review steps
Summary
The Board of Finance recommended placing a $20 million drinking-water bond on the March 4, 2025 ballot and discussed phasing, peer review, and strategies to limit rate and tax impacts.
The Burlington City Board of Finance voted unanimously to recommend a $20 million drinking-water bond for the March 4, 2025 ballot, with staff outlining a phased approach, further peer review, and outreach steps intended to limit rate and tax impacts.
Division director Megan Moyer (Water Division) and Treasury staff presented a pared-down request and described a phasing strategy intended to reduce immediate affordability pressures. Moyer said the project team will seek a comprehensive peer review at the 60% final design milestone and provide milestone updates to the City Council and DPW Commission. Ashley (Treasurer's Office) noted the bond would give the city higher priority for low-interest Vermont State Revolving Fund (SRF) financing.
Why it matters: the administration said the water-related work is part of a broader multi-bond capital package intended to address aging infrastructure, including drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems. Staff emphasized that passing the water bond would strengthen the city’s position when applying for SRF funds and other grants.
Concerns and discussion: Councilors and members of the public pressed staff on affordability and contingencies if some bonds pass while others do not. Councilor Carpenter asked, “what happens if the water bond passes and the lake bond does not?” Moyer replied the city lacks a full contingency plan and said failures in uncovered systems could lead to repairs, permit violations and higher downstream costs; she said tertiary wastewater treatment will be required by regulation in the future and that sequencing matters for construction.
Public comment: Former Councilor Sharon Buscher asked if the water bond could advance independently of wastewater/stormwater funding and how combined impacts would affect affordability. She told the board she was "really worried about affordability" and urged the city to consider longer-term financing options to spread the burden across more years.
Outcome: The board voted to recommend the $20 million drinking-water bond for placement on the March 4 ballot. Staff said additional third-party review and design milestones would precede construction and that the bond’s passage does not itself guarantee funding for any specific project until subsequent approvals and procurement actions occur.
