By Evan Johnson
KILLINGTON—Killington’s various town departments have been busy creating drafts of their budgets for the coming fiscal year. At a Select Board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 5, draft budgets were presented for the town clerk/treasurer, lister, highways, Killington Fire and Rescue, and capital budget.
Lucrecia Wonser, Killington’s treasurer and clerk, presented a budget that is similar to last year’s spending levels. It includes an additional $5,000 estimate for a printing project. The Board of Civil Authority is set at $5,000, unchanged from last year. The treasurer’s salary budget projection shows an increase of 60 percent to account for an assistant treasurer to meet the increased workload.
Killington Town Manager Deb Schwartz and lister Butch Findeisen presented the updated budget proposal reflecting a $2,400 increase in costs for updating maps. The remainder of the budget is largely unchanged and the total is 2.33 percent less than last fiscal year’s budget.
The Dec. 5 meeting saw the introduction of the Interim Parks & Rec Director Kate DeFrancesco-Sias, a candidate for the permanent position. The town has received six applications and interviews will begin later this month. She noted a nearly 7 percent increase in revenues and corresponding expenses reflecting an increase in camp participation.
Schwartz also reported a proposed increase in the Killington Active Seniors’ budget to accommodate an expansion of activities for this group.
The proposed budget for the transfer station includes a 2 percent increase in salary and a $1,000 increase in recycling expenses. The highways budget includes a 2.16 percent increase over last year’s budget.
The Killington Fire and Rescue budget is facing an overall reduction of 4.2 percent from last year, to $199,200. Gary Roth said newer trucks have helped reduce maintenance costs.