Council adopts FY27 budget schedule; sets Dec. 11 working session and Sept. 15 projection briefing

The South Burlington City Council approved the FY27 budget schedule on Sept. 2, setting a Sept. 15 council briefing on FY27 projections and a Dec. 11 budget working session for department presentations and council discussion. The council also approved a budget listening session for residents on Sept. 6 to collect public priorities earlier in the process.

Finance Director Martha (last name not specified in the transcript) told the council the schedule follows the city's multi-year budgeting rhythm and that the Dec. 11 working session (proposed 9 a.m.–1 p.m.) will allow staff to present department budgets in a single extended session rather than spread across many regular meetings. "The majority of it is things that the departments would need to do to prepare the budgets," she said, adding that the city's finance team is simultaneously closing FY25, administering FY26 and preparing FY27.

Councilors confirmed the working-session timing with staff and approved the schedule unanimously. Staff noted past practice of producing a limited number of printed budget books for archives and public pickup and said most residents now rely on online materials. The council asked staff to coordinate timing and communications with the South Burlington School District and to present sidewalk-inventory results and other planning items at upcoming council meetings as appropriate.

The approved schedule includes staff deadlines for departmental submissions, two public input steps (the Sept. 6 listening session and the formal budget public hearing later in the process) and a date for council goal-setting tied to the FY27 projections. Councilors asked staff to return with the FY25 year‑end projection numbers and the FY27 revenue assumptions at the Sept. 15 meeting.