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CCRPC Executive Committee backs FY2026 UPWP and mid‑year budget adjustment, sends recommendation to Board
Summary
The Chittenden County RPC Executive Committee voted unanimously Jan. 7 to recommend the FY2026 Unified Planning Work Program and a mid‑year budget adjustment to the Board after staff described delayed federal funds, a higher indirect rate and health insurance costs, and a surplus from an insurer transition.
The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission’s Executive Committee voted unanimously Jan. 7 to recommend the FY2026 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and a mid‑year budget adjustment to the full Board with minor edits.
Charlie Baker, CCRPC executive director, presented the UPWP and described several changes driving the mid‑year adjustment, including new tasks tied to a regional planning grant with the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, support for a TOD RAISE grant, energy funding, and work funded through an EMPG (Emergency Management Performance Grant). Baker said some federal funds are currently delayed because of questions tied to the legal status of staff or board members and the organization’s DEI policy, though he said other funding sources have not imposed the same requirements. He also noted a slightly higher calculated indirect rate and rising health insurance costs as expense pressures.
Forest Cohen, business director, answered a question about a $900 July charge as an annual sponsorship for the CCRPC’s “Bike Me Out to the Ballgame” program. Baker told the committee that CCRPC recently received about $92,000 from a third‑party administrator transition that has not yet been booked into the current budget and that the agency typically ends the year about $80,000 positive; he said the organization maintains roughly $1.5 million in cash reserves.
Jeff Carr moved to forward the UPWP and budget mid‑year adjustment to the Board with minor edits; Karen Murphy seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The committee asked staff to make small changes before board review; Baker said he expected the Board to consider the recommendation at its next meeting.
The committee’s discussion centered on fiscal and grant‑management risks: Jacki Murphy expressed concern about federal inquiries into staff legal status and their potential effect on funding, and the group discussed staffing and program priorities while preserving flexibility to respond to state and federal conditions.
