CCRPC committee forwards FY2025 Unified Planning Work Program and budget to full board

The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Joint Finance & Executive Committee voted May 1 to send the draft FY2025 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and budget to the full CCRPC board for review and approval.

Charlie Baker, Executive Director, reviewed highlights of the draft UPWP and said hourly rates in the budget may change pending the committee's compensation and benefits discussion. Jeff Carr moved to transmit the April 25, 2024 draft UPWP and budget with minor edits related to personnel policy changes; Bard Hill seconded. The mover accepted a friendly amendment to acknowledge that personnel-side details could change as compensation items are finalized. The motion carried with Elaine Haney abstaining, who had just joined the meeting at 5:56 PM.

Why it matters: The UPWP establishes the CCRPC's planning priorities and related staff workload for FY2025 and frames how staff time and consultant resources will be allocated. Committee members emphasized that proposed benefit changes should not affect municipal dues, a key point for members to communicate to their selectboards and city councils.

The committee decided the budget vote can proceed in May without finalizing certain personnel policy decisions because the packet contains conservative estimates for those benefits. Members asked staff to provide additional cost details tied to compensation decisions that remain open so the board can evaluate any downstream fiscal impacts at the June meeting.

Next steps: The draft UPWP and budget will be reviewed by the full CCRPC board at its May 15, 2024 meeting.