Fiscal Year 2027 City Budget

At a glance

• What: The annual appropriation and budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, and the annual tax assessments on the Grand List.
• Status: The revised budget resolution was adopted 10:1:1 on June 15, 2026; the tax assessment resolution was adopted unanimously the same night.
• Next: The budget took effect July 1, 2026.

Detail

The Mayor spoke to the 40-minute budget item. Bergman moved and Schachter seconded to waive the reading and adopt the revised version of the resolution. Ayes (10): Barlow, Bergman, Broderick, Carpenter, Grant, Neubieser, Sanchez-Parkinson, Schachter, Singh and President Traverse. Nay: Litwin. Absent: McKnight. The minutes do not state the budget total. CAO Schad then spoke to the annual tax assessments on the Grand List; Bergman moved and Grant seconded; unanimous.

Related June 15 items: Livable Wage Rates for FY 2027 were received on the consent agenda; Fiscal Year 2027 Mayoral Appointments were approved; the Church Street Marketplace fees were set in Church Street Marketplace Common Area Fees. During the Public Forum, Andrea Viets spoke on older adults and the budget (Andrea Viets; position not recorded). The department budget presentations of April 30, May 4 and May 7 are summarized in the Earlier steps section below.

Sources

• Minutes, City Council, June 15, 2026 (items 7.5, 7.6): https://burlingtonvt.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=20468)
• Minutes, City Council, April 29, 2026 (FY27 Budget Presentations): https://burlingtonvt.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=19858)
• Minutes, City Council, April 30, 2026 (FY27 Budget Presentations): https://burlingtonvt.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=19872)
• Minutes, City Council, May 4, 2026 (FY27 Budget Presentations): https://burlingtonvt.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=19898)
• Minutes, City Council, May 7, 2026 (FY27 Budget Presentations): https://burlingtonvt.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=19948)

Department budget presentations (April 30 to May 7)

Three evening sessions in the Bushor Conference Room heard department budgets; all items were information and presentation only, with no motions on the budget itself. The minutes record presenters but no amounts or questions.

• April 29 (2026-04-29 - City Council): Airport, Burlington Electric Department (Darren Springer), CEDO (Kara Alnasrawi), Church Street Marketplace, Burlington Telecom and Planning (Charles Dillard); information only, running 5:36 to 7:36 pm.
• April 30 (2026-04-30 - City Council): Fire (Curtin), Police (Interim Chief Burke and Shannon Trammell) and Fletcher Free Library (Mary Danko). The Department of Finance and Administration item (Clerk and Treasurer, Human Resources, Innovation and Technology, Assessor) was tabled when the agenda was adopted unanimously (Barlow/Carpenter). Speakers in the Public Forum: Sharon Bushor and Jak Tiano.
• May 4 (2026-05-04 - City Council): Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (Kelli Perkins), DPW General Fund (Schad), Capital (Ashley Parker), Water Resources (Megan Moir), Traffic and Parking Facilities, Permitting (Bill Ward) and City Attorney. The Board of Finance members present were the Mayor, Schad, Carpenter and Barlow.
• May 7 (2026-05-07 - City Council): Burlington City Arts (Doreen Kraft, Sara Kata; see Burlington City Arts Budget Support), Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront (Phil Lewis and others), Mayor's Office, Regional Programs and Finance and Administration (Schad, Brad Kukenberger, Reagan). Retirement Fund, Health and Dental Insurance, and Liability Insurance and Workers Comp were slated for the May 11 Board of Finance agenda. Bushor raised concern about a Parks reduction in recreation scholarships.

Earlier steps

On 2026-05-18 - City Council (item 7.9) the Department of Finance and Administration gave a 25-minute presentation of the FY27 General Fund budget overview of the Mayor's budget; information only, no motion. Sharon Bushor spoke online in the Public Forum on the FY27 budget. The same night the Council approved the Chittenden Solid Waste District's FY2027 budget unanimously (Barlow/Schachter).

Log

2026-05-07 - City Council

Budget presentations for City Arts, Parks, Mayor's Office, Regional Programs and Finance and Administration.

2026-05-04 - City Council

Budget presentations for REIB, DPW General Fund, Capital, Water Resources, Traffic and Parking, Permitting and City Attorney.

2026-04-30 - City Council

Budget presentations for Fire, Police and Library; Finance and Administration item tabled.

2026-04-29 - City Council

Budget presentations for Airport, Burlington Electric, CEDO, Church Street Marketplace, Burlington Telecom and Planning.

2026-05-18 - City Council

Item 7.9. Mayor's FY27 General Fund budget overview presented.

2026-06-15 - City Council

Items 7.5 and 7.6. Budget adopted 10:1:1; tax assessments adopted unanimously.