Rutland Select Board advances departmental budgets and approves ballot request for recreation depreciation

The Town of Rutland Select Board met on Dec. 10 to review departmental budgets for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and approved several budgets for presentation to voters.

At the meeting the board approved the recreation budget as amended to add a municipal‑retirement line of $4,500 and a childcare contribution line of $540. Recreation official Mike Rowe told the board his department projects roughly $27,000 in program income, with the pool and concessions providing most of that revenue. Rowe said he proposes converting his position to full time and funding a $50,000 salary line partly by shifting $20,000 previously allocated for maintenance into payroll while keeping a maintenance‑labor line to cover truck and grounds work.

The board also accepted the fire department budget as presented after Chief Chris Clark outlined several line changes — telephone costs for both Center and other stations were increased to $4,400, cable service reduced modestly and Social Security/benefit lines updated — and discussed a potential capital repaving project at the Center Rutland driveway estimated at about $64,500.

Highway Director Dave reviewed a largely level‑funded highway operating budget while flagging uncertainty over state grants. The board approved the highway budget for voter consideration; members later approved a separate motion to increase highway depreciation from 0.5% to 1% to accelerate equipment replacement (see separate article on highway decisions).

On public safety, the police budget was revised after staff removed an optimistic state grant assumption for a new offender‑registry program, which agency staff said will likely reimburse towns on a case‑by‑case basis rather than provide the larger pooled grant previously expected. The board approved the police budget as adjusted; it also agreed to hold a previously planned $150,000 hotel‑fund offset in reserve pending audit reconciliation rather than apply it now to reduce the amount to be raised by taxes.

Votes at a glance: - Recreation budget: approved by the board for voter consideration (voice vote 4–0, 1 absent). - Fire budget: approved by the board for voter consideration (voice vote 4–0, 1 absent). - Highway budget: approved by the board for voter consideration (voice vote 4–0, 1 absent). - Police budget: approved as adjusted by the board (voice vote 4–0, 1 absent). - Recreation depreciation increase (1.25% → 1.75%): board voted to place the question on the ballot (voice vote 4–0, 1 absent).

Next steps: department budgets approved for voter warning will be finalized with the town administrator and posted in advance of the town meeting; the board scheduled follow‑up work to reconcile salary tables and finalize ballot language for the depreciation proposals.

The select board adjourned after confirming timelines for pre‑town‑meeting materials and department reports.