Town Report and Budget

Town Report

Each February, in anticipation of Town Meeting, the Town of Manchester publishes a Town Report. The Town Report includes the report of officers of the Town, financial information, the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, and a list of elected and appointed Town officials.

The entire 2009 and 2008 Town Reports can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

The Selectboard normally dedicates the Town Report to a group of citizens or individuals in the Town that have made significant contributions to the Town. The 2009 Town Report is dedicated to Chief Manfred A. Wessner. Since 1992 past honorees include:

• 2008 - Doug and Cynthia Kilburn
• 2007 - World War Two Veterans
• 2006 - Ron and Cheryl Wilcox
• 2005 - Manchester Fire Department Members
• 2004 - Stanley S. Hinkley
• 2003 - Mary Hard Bort
• 2002 - Jeff Wilson, former Town Manager
• 2001 - Doug Shaw, former member of the Planning Commission
• 2000 - Howard Wechsler, Zoning Board of Adjustment Chair
• 1999 - Betty A. Tobin, Town employee
• 1998 - I. Stanford Zecher, Jr.
• 1997 - Barbara Cross
• 1996 - Ferdinand "Nundy" Bongartz
• 1995 - Madeline and Clifford "Doc" Harwood
• 1994 - Howard Dailey, Manchester Fire Department
• 1993 - Oscar Johnson Jr.
• 1992 - Chris Swezey, Manchester Fire Department

Financial detail for FY 2009 for the Town Clerk's Office that was not included in the Town Report can be downloaded at the bottom of this page. This information will also be available at Town Meeting. 

FY 2011 Town Budget

On December 11, 2009 Town Manager John O'Keefe submitted his budget recommendations to the Selectboard and Board of Water Commissioners. The entire FY 2011 budget can be download at the bottom of this page. 

The Selectboard and Water Board held hearing in mid-December and made revisions to the budget. An updated version of the budget can be downloaded at the bottom of this page under "Revised Selectboard FY11 Budget."

Please note that all General Fund personnel accounts were consolidated in FY 2011 into 1-4-2800-00 and are no longer in individual departments.

Individuals with questions or comments about the FY 2011 budget can email John O'Keefe, Town Manager, at j.okeefe@town.manchester.vt.us.

The Town of Manchester operates on a fiscal year that begins on July 1 of each year and ends on the following June 30. The Town Report includes the proposed budget for the next fiscal year. The budget for Fiscal Year 2010 (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010) is located on page 39 of the Town Report, which can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

Budget Process Overview

In 2008 the Town of Manchester Selectboard adopted an innovative two year budgeting process. According to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT), Manchester is one of the only municipalities in Vermont that currently utilizes a two year budget planning process. The second year of the two year budget process is for planning purposes only and is not included in the Town Meeting vote or Town Report. The budget submitted by the Town Manager on December 11, 2009 includes recommendations for Fiscal Year 2011 and 2012.

The following is a typical budget schedule:

• In August Selectboard approves Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that details the Town's  capital needs for six fiscal years
• In September the Town Manager solicits budget proposals from heads of departments through a document called the "budget call letter"
• In October heads of departments submit budget proposals to the Town Manager with supporting documentation
• In October and November the Town Manager works with heads of departments to develop Town Manager's budget recommendations to the Selectboard
• In December the Town Manager submits the budget recommendation to Selectboard
• In mid-December the Selectboard holds public meeting to review budget recommendation submitted by Town Manager and to accept public comments
• In January the Selectboard approves the Selectboard budget
• In February the Selectboard budget is printed in Town Report
• In late February or early March Town Meeting discusses and votes on Selectboard budget 
• In July the Town management team begins to implement the Town Meeting approved budget