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OCTOBER 8, 2020
Town faces half million dollar deficit Staff proposes decreased budget for next fiscal year By Jason Starr Observer staff
The Town of Williston is on track for a half million dollar budget deficit in the current fiscal year and is planning for a budget decrease of roughly $250,000 for the coming fiscal year. Administrators have identified a variety of ways to close the budget gap so that spending does not outpace revenue by the end of this fiscal year in June. Revenue decreases in the local rooms and meals
tax, passport processing fees, recreation programming and bank account interest — all related to pandemic restrictions — account for the projected $560,000 deficit, according to town finance director Shirley Goodell-Lackey. Town administrators plan to defer town building security enhancements, town hall parking improvements, Allen Brook Community Park funding, general park maintenance and fire department communications equipment that were budgeted for the current year. They also plan to leave the positions of assistant town manager and library assistant unfilled and reduce the hours of an assistant town clerk. The selectboard on Tuesday
Administrators have identified a variety of ways to close the budget gap so that spending does not outpace revenue. gave an informal nod to the expense reduction plans, which will take the $11.6 million budget approved on Town Meeting Day down to $11.1 million. Town Manager Erik Wells expects pandemic-related revenue shortages to persist into the upcoming fiscal year.
“Our revenue is not going to be back to pre-COVID levels, so we should think about that as we develop the budget,” he said. “We are not looking to add a lot for next year. Any departments thinking about enhancements, it may be a year when we wait on that.” The administration started next year’s budget planning with a baseline of $11.1 million, matching the projection for the end of the current fiscal year. They then added $300,000 in fixed new costs, including an increase in employee health insurance, the full staffing of the police department and about $100,000 of new debt related to two new fire engines. That got them to a projected budget for next fiscal year of $11.4 million.
Although spending would be down from the $11.6 million budget passed this year, property taxes could go up due to an anticipated flat or negative change in the town’s grand list. “The prospect of a flat or decreased grand list brings with it a decrease in property tax revenue if the tax rate is not adjusted to meet the revenue needs of the operating budget,” Wells explained in a memo to the board. “We’re concerned about the tax rate increase and keeping that at some manageable level with everything that’s going on with folks financially,” Goodell-Lackey told the board. She noted, however, that property tax delinquencies were no greater than last year after the Sept. 15 installment was collected.
Salon Vermont opens in former TV studio Couple brings emerging business model to Blair Park By Jason Starr Observer staff
It took true confidence in their business model and an opportunity to move into a unique space for Iri Sunj and Ines Ogorinac to proceed with plans to open a hair salon amid the restrictions and challenges of a pandemic. Salon Vermont opened in late September at 34 Blair Park Rd. in Williston. The spot shares a building with the Williston Post Office, Boho Baby, a UPS store and Ski The East, and is currently most recognizable from Route 2 by the four-story hotel that is under construction. Blair Park is a second location for Salon Vermont, which has 10 stylists operating in a Dorsett Street location in South Burl-
ington that opened in early 2019. Sunj and Ogorinac met and married in Vermont after separately fleeing war in Bosnia with their families as children. Ogorinac is one of the stylists working at the Dorset Street location; Sunj is an intensive care nurse at UVM Medical Center who recently transitioned to the infusions department for a mellower schedule that will allow him to devote more time to the expanding business. For clients, Salon Vermont appears to operate as a single entity. In reality, it is the workplace of several independent stylists. The business rents chairs to stylists who operate as contractors, setting their own schedules and processing their own payments. Massage and aesthetician services will also be offered. Sunj describes it as a mutually beneficial business model that is on the rise in the hair styling industry. “We can consult with each other and we’ll gladly help them, but ul-
timately it’s their business,” Sunj said. “We want them to succeed … It works in our favor because people stay, there’s no turnover. Clients love the atmosphere because everyone is so positive and supportive. So it creates this little ecosystem.” Sunj and Ogorinac are choosy about which stylists they take on as renters. They opened the Williston location in part to satisfy demand from stylists. “We try to really be genuine and supportive of their successes and be mindful who we let rent,” Sunj said. “We base a lot of things on the honor system, almost like the good old days when a hand shake was enough … We don’t have any drama, which is crazy for a salon. People just enjoy coming to work and getting stuff done.” The Sola Salon nearby on Route 2A operates on a similar model with a group of independent entresee SALON VERMONT page 2
Observer courtesy photos
Salon Vermont opened in September at 34 Blair Park Road in Williston.
Fall Festival Fun at the Farm Saturdays - (Oct. 10, 17 and 24) feature the Isham Family Farm Farmers Market from 1-4pm with farm fresh produce, maple, honey, baked products, cider donuts and craft vendors. Vendors also include Lareau woodfired pizza and Sisters of Anarchy ice cream, plus Live Music 1-4pm, and wagon rides, pumpkin picking and corn maze from 12-5pm. Isham Family Farm
3515 Oak Hill Rd., Williston
Sundays - Baked goods, cider donuts, wagon rides, pumpkin picking and corn maze from 12-5pm.