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LOCAL MATTERS 15
Under his supervision, city spending has become more regimented, Rusten said, pointing to what’s known as the pooled cash fund. “We have segregated money into different bank accounts. We have a much more formalized process if people are borrowing money that will cross fiscal years. That borrowing has to be approved by city council, and we have promissory notes that are very clear about when it will be paid off, how it will be paid off, with what interest rate.” Rusten also prides himself on making city financial data more transparent, citing the monthly reports he provides the city council’s finance board. Council President Joan Shannon, who sits on that board, described him as “really responsive to whatever we ask him for.” She described his “just-the-facts” style as radically different than that of his predecessor. “[Leopold] had strong opinions, and he would share those opinions. I think Bob holds his opinions closer to his chest.”
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education funding system. Rep. Ann Manwaring described him as one of an elite few who actually understands how the financing formula works. She took Rusten’s seat when, after 10 years in the legislature, he stepped down to take a job as Wilmington town manager. Reflecting on that decision, Rusten said he preferred policy to politics. Thomas Consolino, who chaired the Wilmington selectboard when Rusten was town manager, described him as “very frugal.” He spent four years in that job before joining Miller in South Burlington in 2010. In his current seat, Rusten works under the radar, but he’s still had a hand in some high-profile decisions. “Their finances have really improved,” Dorey said. “And I know a lot of that has to do with the mayor, but I also know that in the background, a lot of it has to do with Bob.” The tax increase that voters approved in March? “I’m out there being the spokesperson,” Weinberger said. “But it was certainly his project.”
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mostly parents, students and teachers, and it’s hard to gauge how much of an impact they are having outside that crowd because “most of the people you talk to are supportive of the budget.” As the organization has grown, so too has the task at hand. The budget situation has deteriorated. Due to the discovery of deficits and other problems, the second budget proposal is actually half a million higher than the one rejected in March. (The tax rate is lower, however, due to changes at the state level.) Friends of Education is trying to explain this while also assuring people that the new school board is in control. Not exactly a situation that lends itself to sound bites. “That presents a huge challenge,” Levinson said. “The perception of fiscal mismanagement is huge.” If voters reject the new budget, a default budget with roughly $1 million in additional cuts would kick in. That means Friends of Education must also convince voters that the difference in price between the two budgets is negligible, while impact on schools would be significant. Friends of Education members aren’t happy that Mayor Miro Weinberger has inserted himself in the situation by calling on Collins to step down. “In my opinion, the mayor’s support of the budget should be separate from whether or not Jeanne resigns,” Levinson said. Hood echoed that sentiment. “We’re going to let the political process play out, but I strongly believe it is the school board’s responsibility to manage that issue.” The good news for bFE? Hood said he hasn’t seen evidence of an opposition movement, though he isn’t writing off the possibility of a “stealth ‘no’ campaign.”
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The burlington Friends of Education hasn’t had to do much in the quarter century since it was established to promote the passage of school budgets. That’s because Queen City voters have voted yes almost every year. until this one. On Town Meeting Day, the budget failed by a 9 percent margin. A few weeks later, the specter of drastic cuts — Superintendent Jeanne Collins circulated a list of 48 jobs in jeopardy — drew hundreds of parents, teachers and school employees to the burlington High School cafeteria. Most were there to plead with the school board to go gently or refrain entirely from making cuts. Others came to repent — they said they assumed the budget would pass and therefore hadn’t lifted a finger to help. Chris Hood, treasurer of the burlington Friends of Education and a teacher at Champlain Valley union High School, acknowledges the “sleepy” organization’s efforts leading up to the March vote were “very subdued.” Five volunteers raised less than $1,000 toward the effort. Now burlington Friends of Education is waking up. Hood estimates that 100 volunteers have raised $2,000 to pay for flyers and newspaper ads in advance of the June 3 revote, and the group plans to do “aggressive phone calling and leafletting, and a lot of person-to-person conversations.” There’s steady chatter on Twitter, Facebook and Front porch Forum. Amanda Levinson, whose son is a first grader at Champlain Elementary, didn’t know Friends of Education existed until after Town Meeting Day, but now she’s organizing a Q&A and designing infographics for them. According to Levinson, the group is
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