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CCRPC reviews draft FY2022 UPWP and budget, flags pending state and federal funds
Summary
The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission’s Executive & Finance Committee reviewed the draft FY2022 UPWP and FY22 budget, discussed proposed one-time $75,000 regional planning grants, ARPA support for RPCs, and a projected near-term shortfall while noting $444,921 in cash on hand.
The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission’s Joint Executive & Finance Committee reviewed the draft FY2022 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and budget at its April 7, 2021 meeting.
Charlie Baker, the CCRPC executive director, presented the income and expense sides of the draft budget, saying staff had penciled in several pending revenue items. He said the legislature has proposed a one-time $75,000 Regional Planning Grant for each regional planning commission and that CCRPC has recorded some, but not all, of that amount pending final budget action. He also said the CCRPC budget assumes $150,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) support to be distributed over two years between RPCs, equating to roughly $13,000 per RPC to help municipalities comply with federal ARPA requirements.
Staff noted other pending revenues: Department of Environmental Conservation funds tied to the clean water service-provider startup (approved but not yet under contract), and possible subcontracting income from a consultant for the All-Hazards Mitigation Plan. New one-time operating items include expenses for an Elderly & People with Disabilities Summit.
On the expense side, staff reported operating revenue of $2,312,799 and consultant revenue of $2,664,279; direct project revenue is budgeted lower than FY21. Salaries and benefits were budgeted with modest percentage increases (salaries about 3.15%, benefits about 3.48%). Charlie Baker said the draft ends with an approximate $20,000 deficit but that CCRPC has smoothed prior volatility tied to indirect rate swings. He pointed to a cash-balance chart showing $444,921 as of March 31, 2021 and said staff will make minor edits to UPWP deliverables and confirm final budget numbers in the coming weeks.
Committee members asked staff to double-check inclusion of a transit fare and revenue study (work with GMT and VTrans to examine fare-free scenarios and revenue implications) and discussed exploring impact-fee methodology for bicycle and pedestrian projects in Burlington. Jeff Carr raised the possibility of renegotiating office lease terms as staff assess post-pandemic space needs.
The committee did not take a final vote on the budget at the April meeting; Charlie Baker said the Board will be warned for a vote on the Draft FY22 UPWP and Budget at the May Board meeting.
