Guilford Town Report Delivered

Town Administrator salary went from $62,838 in 2023 to a proposed budget of $84,184 this year.

 

When Guilford’s experienced and trained Town Administrator Peder Rude resigned in 2022 his budget was $62,838. He performed his role without an assistant.

​

In 2024, Peder's replacement was budgeted with a $70,000 salary but was actually paid $76,288. That same year she was awarded an administrative assistant who was paid an additional $3,498.00, totaling $79,786 in 2024. ($9,786 in salary was not budgeted by the voters and was subsequently removed from the Reserve fund)

​

With this year’s budget request, of $72,400 for the Town Administrator and another $11,784 for her Assistant, Guilford is paying $84,184 for the same services that were rendered in 2023 for $62,838. That is an increase of $21,346.

​

Treasurer’s Office budget is almost double what was allotted in 2023.

​

In 2023, the budget for the Town Treasurer, Penny and her assistant Danielle was $40,724.

This year, the Town treasurer and her assistant are requesting $80,072 for the same services that were rendered in 2023. That is an increase of $39,348. The assistant town Treasurer is budgeted to make 23,570 this year. In 2024 the assistant treasurer budget was $8,736. That is an increase of $14,838

​

The Town Clerk’s budget decreased this year, but don’t be duped, here’s why. The Town Treasurer was also appointed the Town Clerk following Danielle’s resignation. Holding both offices combines the two salaries and allocates it to one individual.

​

This is exactly what Penny, Guilford’s previous Town Clerk and Treasurer, did. However, in 2023, after 11 years of service, Penny was paid $46,386 as Clerk and $15,462 as Treasurer totaling $61,848. The new Town Treasurer/Clerk would like $39,000 for the Clerk role and $55,702 for the Role of Treasurer. That’s $94,702 which is an increase of $32,853 for the same services rendered in 2023.

 

But wait, Uriel Najera is currently budgeted $11,440 as the Assistant Town Administrator and $14,140 as the Assistant Town Clerk for a total of $25,580. He is on the ballot uncontested to fill the last year of a 3-year term as the Town Clerk.

 

The Town Clerk is a position required by law, the Librarian, the Town Administrator and the Assistant Town Administrator are not required by law. If Uriel maintains the role of Assistant Town Administrator and is Elected Guilford's Town clerk, he will now make $39,000 + $11,784 which is only $50,784. 

​

To put this in perspective, in 2024/25 Vernon’s Town Clerk's salary was budgeted at $58,842.00 with an assistant who was paid $19,158.00. Guilford’s entire budget for both positions this year is $50,444. 

Uriel is tasked with performing the same role as Vernon’s Town Clerk plus reporting to the Town Administrator as her assistant for $8,058 less than the Vernon Clerk makes for holding just one position. If Uriel holds just the clerk position, he will only make $39,000, which is almost $20,000 less per year than Vernon is paying their Clerk.

​

Health Insurance costs for employees, not associated with the road crew, doubled. Guilford had proposed budgets of $45,570 in 2020 and $45,000 in 2025. This year the proposed budget is $90,038. That is an increase of $45,038.

​

The Guilford Free Library wages were budgeted at $37,243 in 2023. Those wages increased last year with the hiring of a new librarian who required $72,779 in wages plus health insurance. This year the librarian is seeking an increase of $4,075.00 for a total of $76,854 plus the cost of insurance. That is an increase of $45,125 for the same services rendered in 2023.

​

The Law Enforcement Fund has $68,000 that was never used and must be voted at a warned town meeting to use for any other purpose. There is also $175,000 in the Waterline Fund that was moved from the VT Bond Bank to the “Town of Guilford.” Why are these funds ($243,000) not accruing interest?

 

I would also like to point to an ethical question regarding Social Services. Requiring in-person voting on those questions is voter suppression. You have no right to vote on something that, if your neighbor is unable to attend, can determine the outcome of their property.

 

It does not matter how little the amount is or how virtuous the cause, no one has the right to reach into the car of a nurse or a truck driver and take their money without asking permission. If your neighbor is unable to attend in person, and you vote to take their money, you are stealing from them. This article should be removed unless Australian ballot is used.