CCRPC committee reviews FY2023 draft work program and budget, flags staff capacity limits

The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission’s Joint Finance & Executive Committee on April 6 reviewed the Draft FY2023 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and budget and identified increased federal planning funds alongside staff capacity constraints.

Executive Director Charlie Baker said the federal infrastructure bill has brought more work this year: “there are more tasks (about 200) this year and more consultant dollars,” and he noted roughly $200,000 more in FTA planning funds and close to $700,000 more in FHWA planning funds. Charlie added that the commission also has about $500,000 in unexpended funds and that overall consultant and partner funding approaches $1.9 million.

Members raised concerns about internal capacity. Chris Jolly, cited during the review, and committee members cautioned that land use staff are over capacity. Charlie said the staffing shortfall is “very apparent, particularly on the Land Use side,” and that the Transportation program has approximately 20 more projects than usual. The committee agreed there are capacity limits at the municipal level as well.

Forest Cohen, Senior Business Manager, reviewed budget lines, noting a 10% increase in MPO Transportation staff funding and a 32% increase in consultant dollars (about $890,000 additional). He flagged line items including Brownfields, Energy Implementation, and the Clean Water Service Provider. Charlie described the Clean Water item as a $550,000 passthrough and said the draft shows about $1.6 million more in consultant spending.

The draft budget shows a $55,000 deficit on the first pass. Charlie said the commission is being conservative and will continue to refine the numbers; he noted that raising the indirect rate to about 77%–78% could reduce the gap and pointed to FY2021 when the commission ended with $86,000 more revenue than expenses.

Personnel changes and new positions are reflected in the draft. Charlie said the budget includes new Equity Manager and Business Office Associate positions and that those salary changes account for part of a roughly 12% increase in the salary line. The Business Office Associate position had not yet been advertised; Charlie said hiring is hoped for by June.

Charlie told the committee the UPWP committee met three times and that the next Executive Committee meeting will include a request to recommend the Draft FY23 UPWP and Budget to the Board for approval. The committee agreed to warn the draft for public hearing at the Board meeting cycle.