Town Will Take
Big Budget Hits
By M. D. Drysdale

As budget time approaches, the Randolph Selectboard was presented with bad financial news on a couple of fronts Tuesday night by Acting Town Manager Joe Voci.

Voci, the town's public works superintendent, is taking on the manager's duties until a new appointee takes over early next year.

Voci warned the board to expect major increases in two areas—health care and ambulance service.

The Vermont League of Cities and Towns, which handles the town's health care plan, was presented with a stunning increase this year by its carrier, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, Voci said. The proposed increase was 32% he said, although that may be reduced to 24%.

As a result, he said, VLCT has decided to switch its business to Sigma Insurance Co., which offers premiums at "only" a 12% increase from last year.

Voci said he is not convinced that the switch is the correct idea, and he is trying to arrange a meeting that would include union representatives and the 35 employees who would be affected.

Depending on what offer is accepted, the increase would be cost the town between $44,000 to $120,000 Selectboard Chair Jim Hutchinson quickly calculated. That's one or two cents on the tax rate, he noted.

Voci said he needs to hear verification that the Sigma plan will include the exact same coverage as Blue Cross—and that the offer is not merely an introductory offer that will escalate quickly the next year or two.

"There are so many questions," he said.

Ambulance up 40%

Voci and the board also have questions about the annual request of the White River Valley Ambulance, which Voci said looks to be a 40% increase from last year—from $152,815 to $215,279.

That 40% per capita increase would affect not only Randolph but all the towns in the White River Valley area.

"I'd like to know why," was Voci's response and Hutchinson and Dawn Butterfield agreed.

Selectman Larry Townsend will attend the ambulance service's board meeting to see what he can find out, and the matter will be taken up "in depth" in tomorrow's budget meeting, Hutchinson said.

Parade Help Requested

After such bad news, the Selectboard was not in the best mood to consider a request from the Chamber of Commerce that the Town contribute to the Fourth of July celebration for the first time.

The Chamber asked for a donation of $2500, primarily to help pay to the increasing costs of policing.

The Police District already pays for some extra salaries on the Fouth of July, but the Chamber is also required (by the Police Department) to hire what Hutchinson called "an enormous number" of outside forces.

Voci noted that the Budget Committee's position is that if the Chamber wants a town donation, it must present a petition of at least 170 signatures to place the request on the Town Meeting warning.

That's what various charities do each year to be included on the warning, he noted. Hutchinson said the request needs to be better explained, and it was forwarded to the Police Committee, which is chaired by Butterfield.

Butterfield noted her committee is beginning a review of all police salaries. If the police are underpaid, she said, it becomes hard to attract new recruits.

"We also want to be a sounding board," for citizen comments about the police, she said.

The poice budget was rejected by Police District voters twice this year before it was finally passed.

The board also approved the appointment of Dominick Delia to the Police Committee.

Quit GMEDC?

Finally, in budget-related news, Voci proposed that the town drop its membership in the Green Mountain Economic Development Corp..

GMEDC wants more than $2000 in dues, he mentioned, but has no current projects involving Randolph. The town already has its own community development corporation, he pointed out.

Hutchinson suggested that the town not be too hasty.

"Let's have a conversation with them," he said.