Budget Breakdown: City Council & Clerk

As we approach Town Meeting Day, the City will be sharing a series of informational posts featuring the information provided in the FY27 Budget Book. Today we’re featuring the City Council and Clerk’s Office:

City Council
The City Council budget pays for the day-to-day operations of Montpelier's legislative body and helps ensure residents can easily participate in local government. The budget covers councilor stipends, required legal notices, professional training, and services needed to run public meetings according to state law.

Changes for the upcoming fiscal year are minimal and reflect actual cost increases rather than new programs. This includes the contract with ORCA Media to record and broadcast City Council meetings, which helps residents participate in and stay informed about city decisions. The budget also accounts for higher costs to publish required notices about public hearings and meetings.

The City Council budget remains focused on fiscal responsibility, transparency, and keeping the public engaged in city government.

City Clerk
Overview
The City Clerk's Office is often the first stop for residents, businesses, and visitors at City Hall. The elected City Clerk and staff handle a wide range of important services:

• First point of contact service
• Running elections
• Issuing birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses
• Recording land records
• Managing dog licenses
• Processing business and liquor licenses

The Clerk also serves as secretary to the City Council, making sure meetings follow proper procedures, keeping official records of Council decisions, and maintaining the city's code of ordinances. The office also supports the Board of Civil Authority and the Board of Abatement.

Staffing and Structure
The office consists of the City Clerk and a Deputy City Clerk. Together, they manage a growing workload that includes running elections, helping customers, following state requirements, and supporting various boards and committees.

In recent years, the office has faced increasing pressure due to:

• Reduced staffing from the Finance Department for first point of contact services, increasing cross-departmental absorption
• More complex election rules and procedures
• Higher voter turnout

These factors have significantly increased the work involved in preparing for elections, processing early votes and absentee ballots, and completing post-election reports, while simultaneously reducing the amount of staff time available to fulfill statutory requirements.

Priorities for the Coming Year

• Running Elections: Continue administering local, state, and federal elections while following all current election laws and reporting requirements.
• Surge Staffing for Elections: Bring on short-term staff starting about one month before each election to handle increased workload and reduce strain on regular staff during busy periods.
• Customer Service: Maintain helpful, accessible service for residents who need vital records, licenses, payments, and other clerk services.

Budget
The proposed budget includes no new programs. Cost increases are limited to wage adjustments and temporary election staff. This focused investment is necessary to maintain quality service and accuracy as elections become more complex and more people vote.

Stay tuned as we count down to Town Meeting Day by spotlighting the dedicated teams working to serve our community! To learn more about each department, check out the City's website at http://montpelier-vt.org.